Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-21
GROWING ALFALFA AND
ITS TRUE INCUBATION

Thomas g. Hutchinson. professor OF
aEronomy at the Virginia Polytechnic
institute. has this to shy about the in
oculation Of alfalfa
by incubation is meant suppIyin.
the soil with the bacteria that live on
me roots of tn" alfalfa plants. and
through which they are able to rather
part of their food -uitrogcn---from the
air. 1t was noticed as far back as the
timc OF the Roman Empire that peas,
cloNors. vctch"s and several other
plants seem to leave The soil in better
condition for subsequent crops than il
was before they were grown. In more
recent years experiments carried on
ny German scientists showed that this
was due to the fact that these plants
had the power of taking nOtroEen from
the air, and not only using it for their
own food. but storing il up in the soil
for the crops which came afterwards
These scientists also found that this
~ wcr was due 10 the action Of tho
bacteria. III" lowest form OF plant life,
which live ON tho roots OF these plants
and that unless these bacteria wcro
present this group OF plants would not
grow we'll, and would not leave the soil
in better condition Tor other crops
These bacteria only live on til plants
known as lccuucs: plants belong to
tho pea family. lii this State the most
important icGumcs arc alfalfa, clovcrs.
peas. beans. vctcheS. cowpcas and soy
bcanS
Some soils already contain the be-
teri which live on the roots OF alfalfa
plants, and when this is the case in
oculation is unnecessary. II sweet
clover grows we'll on the field to be
planted in alfalfa, 1T does not usually
need Irocula;ion. for tho same bac-
terra which live on the alfalfa roots
also live on sweet clover However,
iuNuriant growth OF other clovcrs, such
clover ~ cln
do not indicate that the soil is nocu-
lated for alfalfa If the latter has
been grown on the field successfully
in former years, il will not need in
oculation. or il there are scattering
alfalfa plants on the place which have
small knots or nodulcS on their roots,
the soil does not need the inocula-
ton. These nodules are caused by the
action OF the bacteria. They are found
on the very small roots OF the plant
and are easily distinguishablc.
IF the field intended for alfalfa has
never grown Il before and has no
sweet clover on IT, ii is always safest
to inoculate.
"lnOcuiation is It very simple pro
cess All that is necessary for il is to
procure some soil from AN old alfalfa
field or from II tlourishing sweet clover
patch ana SOW ii over the field just
before the alfalfa is planted. This
soil should be obtuined from the first
foot of soil. and should BE applied at
the rate of 300 pounds or more per
acre. The soil may be screened and
drilled in with an ordinary fertilizer
distributor. or IL may be scattered
broadcast by hand and narrowed in.
The soil should be narrowed in as
soon rs possible after being scattered
if it il n bright day, AS the direct ac-
iion of the sunlight for Il few hours
will kill many bacteria
III the soil for incubation is oh
ts,i Ia. fpnt
he secured when needed, but IL il is to
come from distance, II may be got
ten when convenient and kept until
needed. AS long as the soil il kept
out OF the sunlight il does not matter
If il dries out. In fact, some farm
.rS dry it in the shade so that il will
run through the drill readily
There are commercial firms through
out the country who make a business
Of putting out ARTIFICIAL inoculatinE
material. Tie United states Depart
mcut of Agriculture. Washington, -.
C., also distributes iuocuiating mate
rial TO farmers free OF charge. How
ever. these artificial inocuaiinc ma
terials are not always reliable, and il
is simpler and much the surrSt to use
soil when il can hc procured
Ejaculation is of no benefit If the
lating bacteria cawuot live i'll AN acid
soil II the sol! grows clovtr. peas or
vctchcS successfully. ii usually does
NOT need lime. Otherwise the latter
should be applied before any attempt
to grow aIiaift is made IL ground
limestone or mUral is used. il should
be applied IT the rat" OF TWO tons per
acre. If burnt. unslakrd li,nr Is used,
one ton per acr" is sufficient"