American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-03-15
alfalfa more than anything else need
"a mellow seed bed.
Chain Drag for Packing.

alfalfa more than anything else needs
"a mellow seed bed.
Chain Drag for Packing.
For packing the seed rows a chain
drag is better than wheel pressure,
and the planting should be done when
there is no danger or the soil running
together and later forming a crust.
Drouth alone seldom If ever kills out
established alfalfa, but when accom-
panied by exceedingly low tempera-
lures in winter it may thin out or par
TALLY destroy a stand. Too much water
which may form ice in a field is also
injurious. The most hardy varieties
are the Baltic, the Grimm and those
from North Germany.
The potato is a good dry farm cash
crop in regions where the soil is right
To obtain the best results the land
must be plowed as deeply as possible.
There is an important reason for this
the potato seldom sends it's roots into
the subsoil like other crops; but sub
sfsts almost entirely on nourishment
derived from the seed bed. The finest
potatoes in Europe are raised In the
island of Jersey, the home of the Jer-
oCJ Wv n OAhAAO AOA0 hACA Ao WV
to 500 bushels per acre. They pillow
20 inches deep and fertilize with kelp.
a variety of seaweed which abounds In
that neighborhood. Some of our most
successful potato raisers in the west
pillow twice, once in the fall and again
in the spring. Thin planting and in
~tensive cultivation without any killing
up is also necessary. Good yields are
often obtained on sod when the plow-
ing has been deep and the soil reduced
to a fine mellow seeded.
The seed potatoes or pieces are
usually planted four inches deep about
two feet apart in the rows, which are
spaced about the same width as corn.
One Of the best crops raised on a dry
farm was planted on the winter fallow
the year following the breaking and
went $50 bushels to the acre. The
land was plowed 10 inches deep.
Canada peas are often a good crop,
especially when the season is unusual
ly cool, for when the high temperature
of summer commences they invariably
cease growing. Cow peas are really
beans, will not stand frost, and will
grow where the temperature is too
high for Canada peas.
Spring grain crops as we'll as winter
wheat may often be cultivated to ad-
vantage with the harrow. There is
often a dry spell between the spring
rains and the summer showers and
it is a decided benefit to all crops to
be we'll mulched at this period. Some
farmers are afraid to harrow their
crops; but it has been done in other
lands for hundreds nf uaora oIo4 &kA
rolling Of winter wheat is very preva-
lent in Europe. There is no danger of
doing any damage If the crop has been
planted deep enough, is well stooled
out, but not jointed and the soil is in
the right condition for the work. II
the top is crusted and tears loose In
Jumps then wait for a light shower
After the wheat or other grain is
jointed, and ven about to head, it can
still be cultivated with the spring tooth
weeder, which is made on the plan OF
the hayrake, but with sitter teeth
Treat Seed for Smut.
To prevent rust and smut in grail
and corn, or the wilt in flax, all seed
should be treated with formaldehyde
before planting. The formula is one
pound formalin to so gallons of water
BY formalin is meanth the usual 40 per
cent solution of formaIdehyde sold al
the drug and supply stores. The seed
may be placed in loosely woven bran
sacks and dipped in the mixture for
about ten minutes and then spread out
to dry or may be sprayed on the seed
which is thoroughly stirred and mixed
before spreading out to dry.
Smut in corn is difficult to contro
because the infection remains in the
soil, but if the seed corn is treated az
above and planted in a new land the
smut may be kept out for a number OF
years Or until the wind brings the
spores from some other patch.