Charlevoix county herald., 1917-06-29
URGES WIDER USE
OF ALFALFA BY
MICHIGAN FARMERS
Crop will Produce more Hay
Than any other, and enrich land

East Lansing, Mich, June 26.-The
Michigan farmer who is in quest of a
crop which will furnish large yields of
hay, make stock thrive, and cut down
the amount of concentrated feed re-
quired by his animals, can find what he
wants in alfalfa, farm crops men of the
Michigan Agricultural College declare,
alfalfa, with corn, can be so fed as to
furnish an almost balanced ration.
But the man who goes in for alfalfa,
the crop specialists say, must appreci-
ate that there are details about prepar-
ing the land for it, and planting it
which must not be ignored. Omission
OF any OF these items will almost cer-
tainly result in failure. Those points
are the following.
"First-Select fields for alfalfa which
are well drained and which can be put
in proper condition. Alfalfa should not
be planted after sod but should follow
cultivated crops such as potatoes, corn
or beans, which leave the land fairly
clean.
'If early potatoes are harvested be-
fore mid-July, alfalfa can be seeded
under excellent conditions. Peas are
another crop which can be followed
with alfalfa. These last two crops
offer excellent opportunity for securing
alfalfa at little expense.
"Second-Lime the land for alfalfa.
Apply two tons OF ground limestone or
several cubic yards of mari before
seeding. This crop requires more lime
than any other crop grown in the state.
The soils of Michigan are so widely
deficient in calcium carbonate that in
nearly all cases fields should be lined
in preparation for alfalfa.
| "Third-Inoculate properly. Unless
alfalfa or sweet clover has been grown
previously on the land, incubation
with the proper bacteria is necessary.
Cultures can be secured on application
to the Department of Bacteriology,
Michigan Agricultural College, at 25c
per bottle. One bottle is sufficient for
bushel of seed. The soil method is
also reliable. Spread several hundred
pounds per acre of fresh surface :
from successful alfalfa or sweet clo-
yer patch over the ground to be seed
ed. Apply on cloudy day or in the
evening, and follow with harrow.
Fourth-Prepare the seed bed
thoroughly. Alfalfa should be seeded
on land free OF grass. June grass is
its greatest enemy in Michigan. Follow
after cultivated crop. Plow land five
or six weeks before seeding, firming
with roller and working thoroughly at
frequent intervals. II should be kept
in mind that alfalfa is to remain on the
land from four to six years. A much
more thorough preparation is warrant
ed than in the case OF crops which are
to occupy land for only single season.
"Fifth-Plant at proper time. The
best results are secured with seedlings
made about mid-July on land which
has been plowed early and worked
thoroughly so as to control grass and
weeds. No nurse crop or companion
crop should be seeded except on sandy
soils or soils which are inclined to
wash, in which case peck or so Of
buckwheat will be beneficial Early
spring seedlings should be made with a
companion crop of oats or barley seed
ed at the rate Of one bushel per acre.
"Sixth-Drill fifteen pounds or broad
cast twenty pounds per acre Of good
seed. Northern grown seed or Grimm
seed is best adapted to Michigan and
will Withstand winter killing better
than ordinary alfalfa eaad -