Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1916-12-22

ALFALFA KILLED By STANDING WATER.
Hendrick, assistant in agricultural edu-
cation, states relations service, have
prepared the following suggestions
dealing with the requirements of the
crop in this section:
A deep, fertile, well drained, nonacid
soil is required. Loan soils with open
Subsoils are best for alfalfa, but it may
be grown on soils of almost any tex
ture, from sandy or gravelly loans to
heavy clays. The proportion of fail
ures, however, is apt to be consider
able on deep, porous sands or sands
undertake by gravel. 1t is highly es,
sential in any case that the soil be well
supplied with decaying vegetable mat
ter and plant food. 1t is practically
useless to SOW alfalfa on thin soils
where the bedrock approaches the sur
face, on land which is underlaid at
comparatively shallow depths by hard
pan or in locations where the subsol is
so compact that the roots cannot pene-
trate it. 1t is of prime Importance also
that an alfalfa field shall be located
where the slope is sufficient to carry
off the surplus water and that the wa
| ter table shall remain ut sufficient
depth from the surface. In porous
soils that conduct water readily stand
| ing water at four or five feet is some
times injurious.
The formation Of ice on the surface
of fields is fatal to alfalfa. This condi-
ton is most apt to occur on fields that
are level or that contain pockets. Rich
river or creek bottom lands are often
we'll suited to the crop, provided they
are we'll drained. Prolonged overfows
are nearly always harmful, but are
least injurious If they occur during
winter or early spring, when growth is
| practically dormant. Clay hillsides OF
considerable slope are frequently wa
| ter soaked and poorly drained because
of the close texture Of the soil. Seep.
age areas from outcrOpping rocks oil
other causes often occur on hillsides
also, making undertakings of such
areas necessary In examining a tract
of land for alfalfa frequent borings
should be made with a soil auger tt
determine the character of the soil anG
subsoil as well as the drainage condi
lions. This instrument will usually bt
of greater value in determining the
adaptability of a particular tract K
alfalfa than a chemical analysis OF
the soil. A common one and one-quar
ter inch auger with a shank length
ened and suitable crossbar for han
die is practical for this use.
Limestone soils in general are par
ticularly well suited to alfalfa, blu
even such lands are frequently aciC
and require lining.
When alfalfa is once started unde
favorable soil conditions. weeds. includ
ing perennial grasses, will likely prov
its most dangerous enemy. This is on
reason why sod land is not recon-
mended for this crop. On account o
the danger from weeds, it is usuall
best to precede the alfalfa for one o
two years with a clean cultivated croI
such as truck. sugar beets, beans, pc
tatoes or corn. Where late summer o
fall seeding is practiced, canning pea:
early potatoes, early sweet corn an
early varieties Of soy beans, when Gu
tivated, furnish an opportunity for n
moving a crop in time to seed alfalf
the same season. Where crimson Glove
is used as a cover crop, following
cultivated crop. the soil is usually
, good condition after harvesting th
crimson clover the following spring &c
hay, or when needed the crimson Glove
may be turned under for soil enricl
ment, after which the ground may b
prepared for alfalfa