The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-02-06
BY J. q. HANEY, Agricultural Extern
sion Department.
international Harvester Co Of New
Jersey.


Jersey.
There is little doubt that for the
Dakotas and Minnesota, alfalfa should
be seeded in the spring. Under favor
able moisture conditions in South Da-
kota and southern Minnesota alfalfa
might be successfully seeded after
winter rye or wheat, though not with
out considerable risk from dry wealth
er and early frost.
The cost OF alfalfa seed, and the i'm
portance of securing a good, strong
growth the first year, warrant giving
1t full possession of the soil for the
entire season. Sharp frosts may in
jure or wen kill young alfalfa, hence
II is advisable not to seed until such
danger Is past.
In case the land is known to be rath-
er foul, it should be double-disked
early, and all weeds kept down by
narrowing or disking until the middle
of June or ever later. This overcomes
the weeds and puts the soil in good
shape. There is danger, however, in
1CCuihb hottl lIdn July Ibls that VIZ
weather will damage the alfalfa.
Amount and Method of Seeding.
There are more alfalfa seeds in one
pound than there are plants on the
average acre of alfalfa that is three
years old. This indicates that 1t is
not a question of pounds of seed, but
of securing good seed, and providing
conditions that will make the seed
grow to strong, vigorous plants.
Only good, strong, acclimated seed
should be sown-Grimm alfalfa holds
first place as to hardness, and Mon
tana grown seed seems to give sat
isfaction in nearly every instance.
There is undoubtedly a great differ
ence in seed. though perhaps not so
much as some advertisements would
indicate. The experiment stations
should be consulted as to kind and
source of seed. and samples submitted
to them for purity and termination
tests.
In the dryer sections ON a properly
prepared seed bed, five pounds of seed
per acre sown with a grain drill has
given an ample stand. Eight to twelve
pounds is usually recommended for
average conditions If the seed is drill
ed in; II sown broadcast, one-half
more seed should be sown. If a grass
seeder is not available to use on the
drill, the seed should be mixed with
some other fine material to give II
bulk and prevent leaking and drilling
too thick.
Owing to variations in drills, a meas
ured quantity of the mixture should be
put ia the drill and the area of land
seeded by this amount noted, so as
to be certain that the proper amount
of seed is being put on. Fine screen.
ed sawdust, bran, cornmeal, or parch.
ed millet may be used. Inoculated dirt
is used when dried in the shade, but
is rather hard on the drill. Two parts
of bran to one of seed, with drill set
at one-half bushel of wheat per acre,
should seed about the right amount.
Alfalfa seed should not be planted
very deep-the depth depending some
what on the soil. II the seed bed lis
In proper condition, sufficiently solid,
n moist. one inch should be deep
enough. The seed bed should be SO
solid that the drill wheels do not sink
in more than an inch, which win ad.
NIT OF regulating the depth Of the
disks accurately. The seed should not
be sown unless the moisture in the soil
is within n inch of the surface-it
Is a waste of seed and work to plant
in a dry soil. Press wheels for firming
the soil on the seed in the drills are
very important.