The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1915-11-11
ll--AIE ALA.
BY Earl Fitzpatrick. Extension Agrono-
mist University Of Arkansas.

ll.-alF All A.
By Earl Fitzpatrick. Extension Agrono-
mist University OF Arkansas.
Alfalfa is one of the best hay and
pasture crops grown III this country.
Farmers who have il growing sue
cessfully declare that II IS the most
profitable crop on the farm. Many
failures have been made in alfalfa
growing due 10 the 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 So
lected. because alfalfa roots 80 down
TO a great depth. and a hard pan or an
impervious suhsoil IS Objectionable
\ loose. sravelly or sandy snbsoh
may cause the soil to DRY too quick
". Ii is a mistake 10 trY TO get al
falfa on thin. poor soil. \ few loads
of barnyard manure or 4 crop Of peas
turned under viii turn failure INTO
success. Good draiua@e is necessary
for successful alfslta growing, be
tduSt Ill al d lp'1sN N'ttAit'A t'''tA'' 49,
excessive amount OF water. II the
water level comes up closer than three
feet of the surface. alfalfa can seldom
be grown with profit.
The washing and teaching due 20
the excessive rains during III winter
and spring months cause about 90 per
cent of our soils 10 he 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 aid the young
plants are tender. II seeding l. don"
on a loose. cloddX seed bed, failure IS
apt to result Tht first season The
young plants haxe much competition
with crab grass. foNtaIl and other
weeds II the field is cultivated and
kept clean for some months before
seeding. most of these weeds will be
killed out. II is a mistake to SOW al
falfa on poorly prepared SOL.
incubation Is essential in growing
alfalfa. Soil is said 10 be noculatcd
for alfalfa when II contains the bac-
terra which have the ability to gather
free nitrogen from the air and store
IL in the nodules on the roots OF al
falfa. II these bacteria are not al
ready in the soil they must be intro
duced from an outside source The
most certain way TO lnoculate is 10
bring inoculated soil from a field
which has previously grown alfalfa
or sweet clover Apply such soil al
the rate of about 500 pounds per acre
and disk or harrow il in Immediately.
II will not be safe TO leave II on the
surface for any length of time, be
cause direct sunlight Will Kill germs
very quickly II soil from an InoCu-
lated field is not available. or il that
met hod is too expensive, artificial in
oculation material in 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 al
Washington, II {.
Seeding in September is generally
preferred If the seeding is done that
season the plants have chance 10
get well established before winter
sets in, and in the sprins they NIL
be strong enough 20 get ahead OF the
weeds Twenty pounds of seed TO the
acre is the usual rate in Arkansas. A
Mheelbarrow or cyclone sseder Viii
usually distribute the seed more even
~ over the land than broadCastng n
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
During the first season il may be
necessary TO clip the weeds a couple
OF times TO keep them from seeding
II 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-tenth in bloom
II the cutting is done later, many of
the shoots viii be cut off. and they
will be slow to recover. II the plants
are cut before the shoots start at all,
the next crop will be set back Ii is
not a good idea TO cut alfalfa so late
in the fall that a small growth can
not be made before frost.
Since alfalfa takes much mineral
water from the soil in its growth. it is
unwise to keep a field in alfalfa over
about six years. although If a farm
er's available acreage for this crop is
limited ii may be kept much longer il
given top dressing of manure about
every two or three years.