The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-02-19

only a little larger and not so plump.
II is yellow or an olive green. There
are several varieties Of seed, with
great variation in price according TO
the variety. Experiments ar the Wis
consin station show that Of all north
ern grown seeds not grown under lrri-
cation methods the preference was for
the seed showing best germina ton re-
CARELESS Of variety.
Caution should be exercised as to
the location of the field. Alfalfa can
be grown on wide variation Of soils,
vet on its first trial on farm it Is
best to SOW on high, well drained land.
rich clay loan on top Of gravel or
limestone is the ideal location, but II
will grow on all types Of soil. varying
from q heavy clay to a medium sandy
loan, If other conditions are favors bic.
A gentle slope should be selected. on
level land water will gather on the
surface from rains or melting snow,
and If freezing weather follows ice
will form and smother the plants. The
fields will then become patcby and
should be plowed and reseeded. For
the same reason a creek or river bot
tom that is subject TO overflow should
not be selected. as the alfalfa plants,
If submerged for few hours, will die
from suffocation. Land that has the
water line only two or three feet be-
low the surface should be avoided, as
the plant needs well drained soils,
The natural home for alfalfa is on
limestone soils or soils that have
goodly supply. of carbonate Of lime in
them. No matter how favorable other
conditions may be, If the soil is sour
and gives a strong acid reaction II will
be necessary to neutralize the acidity
TO some extent before 1t will be posi-
BILE TO get the best results.
Acid land can occasionally be deter
mined by plants such as sheep sorrel
and mares tail that thrive thereon. II
can always be determined by testing
with blue litmus paper which can be
obtained from the druggist. Take some
moist earth from few inches beneath
the surface Of the ground and press
II firmly over strip OF litmus paper.
Do not handle the litmus paper when
the hands are moist, as the perspira-
ton from them may cause the paper 10
show an acid reaction when no acid
is present in the soil After the pa per
has remained In the soil for ten or
fifteen minutes, II 1t has changed in
color from a blue to q pink or red, the
soil is acid, and this acidity should be
corrected TO certain degree before
alfalfa can be grown TO advantage.
The beginner should sow only small
acreage until he has studied the coDdi-
tons Of the farm IN relation TO this
crop. One or two acres are sutt cieDt 10
start with Land that has been in
young sod the previous year and then
run 10 potatoes, corn. peas or some
practiced is most suitable. This
should be fall plowed seven or eight
inches deep, so as to have deep. mel
low seed bed.
In the early spring run the disk over
the land and then follow with fine
tooth harrow at weekly intervals until
about June l. so the weeds will sprout
and be killed The alfalfa seed is then
sown without any nurse crop. using
twenty pounds per acre The practice
Of sowing alfalfa with a nurse crop Is
being displaced by the method of sow
ing the seed alone and with much bet
ter results. Where the land Is ex-
tremely weedy 1t is advisable to sum
mer fallow and SOW to alfalfa the first
week In August If weedy the land
should be plowed after the crop is re
moved and fine tooth harrow run at
intervals to kill weeds through the lat
ter part of summer and early fall. For
best results one ton of earth per acre
should be scattered Immediately pre-
ceding the sowing Of the alfalfa seed.
Occasionally the alfalfa will come into
bud and hesitate TO blossom. Sprouts
will then Immediately start at the base.
II should be cut when those conditions
prevail. even though no blossoms ap-
pear.
In the afternoon Of the same day or
cutting, If weather has been favorable,
the alfalfa can be raked and put into
small cocks. The cocks should not be
left standing In the field more than
two or three days during wet weather
without moving or the alfalfa plants
underneat tn the cocks will be partially
or completely smothered. BY running
pitchfork into a cock of alfalfa near
the bottom one can easily move the
pile. If alfalfa is exceedingly green
when cooked or rainy weather sets in
it will heat unless the cocks are open
ed every day or two. In favorable
weather no more difficulty will be ex-
perienced in curing alfalfa than in cur
ing heavy growths Of clover. A much
better quality will be secured il the
crop is cured under hay caps.
The Importance and popularity Of the
plant are such that the present acreage
in Wisconsin will probably double in
the next three years. For the past
twelve years the department OF agron-
omy of the Wisconsin experiment sta
ton has carried on experiments and
issued bulletins bearing upon the Gull
ture Of alfalfa. The call for informa-