Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1914-01-23
SPRING BEST TIME FOR NORTH.
WEsT-sEED AFTER DANGER
OF FROST is PASSED.
GOOD SEED VERY IMPORTANT
Grimm or Montana Grown Seed
Best-Have All Seed Tested for
Purity and Germination-Five
Pounds Seed Enough in
Dry Sections Don't
Plant Seed Too
Deep.
BY J.. G. HANEY, Agricultural Exten
sion Department.
International Harvester Co. of New
Jersey.

International Harvester Co. Of New
Jersey.
There is little doubt that for the
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
it full possession Of the soil for the
entire season. Sharp frosts may in
jure or eve kill young alfalfa, hence
it is advisable not to seed until such
danger is past.
In ase 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 even later. This overcomes
the weeds and puts the soil in good
shape. There is danger, however. In
seeding later than July LIST, that dry
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 it 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; If sown broadcast, one-hali
more seed should be sown. If a grass
seeder is not available to use IN the
drill. the seed should be mixed will
some other fine material to give Il
bulk and prevent leaking and drilling
too thick.
Owing to variations in drills, a meas
ured quantity of the mixture should be
put in the drill and the area Of lane
seeded by this amount noted, so al
to be certain that the proper amour
of seed is being put On. Fine screen
ed sawdust, bran, cornmeal, or parch
ed millet may be used. Inoculated dir
Is used when dried in the shade, bu'
is rather hard on the drill. Two part!
Of bran to one Of seed, with drill Sc
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. If the seed bed il
in proper condition. sufficiently solid
and moist, inc inch should be deeI
enough. The seed bed should be sc
solid that the drill wheels do not sinh
in more than an inch, which will ad
NIT Of regulating the depth of the
disks accurately. The seed should no,
be sown unless the moisture in the sol
is within n inch Of the surface-i
Is a waste of seed and work to plant
In a dry soil. Press wheels for firmine
the soil on the seed in the drills are
very important.