Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-11-10
tI,-ACEAlEA.
By Earl Fitzpatrick, Extension Agrono-
 mist University of Arkansas.

Alfalfa is one of the best hay and pasture crops grown in this country.
 Farmers who have it growing sue cessfully declare that it is the most profitable crop on the farm. Many failures have been made in alfalfa growing due to tho lack of knowledge of soil conditions and poor methods of seeding. In many parts of Arkansas alfalfa is becoming an important crop.
 A deep, loamy soil should be se- lected, because alfalfa roots go down to great depth. and hard-pan or an impervious subsoil. is objectionable A loose graVelly or sandy subsoil may cause the soil to dry too quick ly It is mistake to try to get al falfa on thin, poor soil. A few loads of barnyard manure or crop of peas turned under will turn failure into success. Good drainage is necessary for successful alfalfa. growing, be- cause alfalfa roots cannot stand an excessive amount of water If the water level comes up closer than three feet of the surface, alfalfa can seldom be grown with profit.
 Tho washing and teaching due to the excessive rains during thu winter and spring months cause about 90 per cent of our soils to be deficient in lime. Alfalfa requires large amount of this element. The shortage in lime can be remedied by adding one or two tons of ground limestone to the acre. Alfalfa seeds are small and the young plants age tender. If seeding is done on loose. cloddy seed bed. failure is apt to result. The first season the young plants have much competition with crab grass, foXtail and other weeds. If the field Is cultivated and kept clean for some months before seeding, most of these weeds will be killed out. It is a mistake to SOW al falfa on poorly prepared soil.
 Inoculation Is essential in growing alfalfa. Soil Is said to be inoculated for alfalfa when 1t contains the bac- teria which have the ability to gather free nitrogen from the air and store 1t in the nodules on the roots of al- falfa. If these bacteria are not al ready in the soil they must be intro duced from an outside source. The most certain way to inoculate Is to bring inoculated soil from a field which has previously grown alfalfa or sweet clover. Apply such soil at the rate of about 300 pounds per acre and disk or harrow 1t in immediately. It will not be safe to leave 1t on the surface for any length of time. be- cause direct sunlight will kill germs very quickly. If soil from an inocu- lated field is not available. or if that method is too expensive, artificial in- oculation material ill the form of pure culture can be secured free of charge from the United States De- partment of Agriculture. Where there are county agents the applica- ton should be made through them; otherwise write directly to the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. c.
 Seeding in September is generally preferred. If the seeding is done that season the plants have chance to get well established before winter sets in, and in the. spring they will be strong enough to get ahead of the weeds. Twenty pounds of seed to the acre is the usual rate in Arkansas. A wheelbarrow or cyclone seeder will usually distribute the seed more even ly over the land than broadcasting. If neither of these machines can be had, broadcasting is satisfactory. If done carefully. This method calls for about five pounds more of seed than machine seeding. s
 During the Nfirst season it may be necessary to clip the weeds couple of times to keep them from seeding. If the weeds are not bad, considerable alfalfa may be secured the first sea- son. In no case should any weeds be allowed to go to seed. The cutting of alfalfa should always be done when the new shoots are just starting from the crown. This is usually when the plants are about one-tenrl in bloom. If the cutting is done later, many of the shoots will be cut off, and they will be slow to recover. If the plants are cut before the shoots start at all, the next crop will be set back. It is not good idea to cut alfalfa so late in the fall that small growth can not be made before frost.
 Since alfalfa takes much mineral water from the soil in it's growth, it is unwise to keep field in alfalfa over about six years, although if farm nr.s available acreage for this crop is limited 1t may be kept much longer if eiyen ! top dressing of manure about ewery two or three years.