Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-04

of the splendid advance we have re-
Gently made, remains largely to be
developed in the future. Thus alfal-
ia becomes a matter of more and
more economic importance to the
farmers of the state. r.
1t is true that we grow consid-
cradle corn and that we are in
creasing our production from year
to year. We are also devoting con-
siderable areas Of land to oats and
to some other cereals. AS a matter
of fact, we are still short. how
ever, on concentrates and it is clear
to all thinking men that" if we are
to develop our animal industries we
must do so through growing and
utilizing foods raised at home and
not through attempting to buy and
feed grains produced in other sec
| lions of the country. Since alfalfa,
therefore, may be made to supple
ment our production of concentrates
to the best possible advantage, it
becomes most important and de-
sirable crop on which to concen-
trate our efforts.
I do not believe the time viii
ever come when there will be an
over-production of alfalfa in Geor
gia for the simple reason that it is
not an easy croy to establish. 1t is
also a costly crop to establish, and
as it requires a special preparation,
treatment and handling of the
ground it would be a long time be-
fore many of our farmers fully
| sense and realize its economic i'm;
portance and make the special eff
fort necessary to establish it sue
cessfully.
Under the circum stances, how
should we proceed to establish al
falfa? Experience is said to be the
best guide, and if that be true then
alfalfa should be seeded only in the
fall in this state. 1t is certain that
it is not worth while to plant al
falfa unless one is willing to lime
the ground. Of course, there are
favored soil out-croppings in some
sections of the state which may
contain good deal of limestone
and where an application of lime
may not seem essential. In a few
instances it may not be necessary
at all, but the writer does not know
Of any locality where the use of
!
| sirable.
In attempting to establish alfalfa
it is necessary to put the ground
in better condition than for any
other field crop which is planted. SO
| it takes time to get ready for al
| falfa. The land chosen for it should
also be well-drained and rather deep
and friable in texture. If the land
is not we'll drained the water stands
about the roots of the plants and
the alfalfa soon dies out. This crop
is different from almost any other
of our farm crops because it is tap
rooted and the roots strike down in
to the soil to a depth of several
feet. Hence a deep soil or a well
drained soil is necessary to the
we'll being of this crop. 1t will not
stand prolonged overflows, so there
is no use putting it on soil where
it will be subjected to these condi-
tions. Alfalfa, as a rule, does better
on the heavier lands than on the
lower lands. This does not mean,
| however, that it will not grow on
fairly light soils. We know enough
about it's adaptability to be GER
tain that it can be grown success
fully on thousands and thousands of
acres in the state of Georgia, where
an attempt, as yet, has never been
made to establish it.
4 The method of procedure in estab-
! fishing alfalfa should be about as
| follows: Select an area of land
| which has been enriched through the
Z planting of several crops of legumes
in succession or by liberal applica-
| tons of yard manure. Land intend
| ed for alfalfa should be made as rich
and as fine in texture as a good gar
den soil. 1t is true that some one
may establish it on a very indiffer-
ent piece of land and that it may
| grow there successfully for several
years, but this only proves the ex-
ception to the rule. The land should
be carefully plowed and preferably
| subsoiled. Deep blowing is des1r-
able A heavy disk drawn by four
or six mules or by tractor should
put the ground in good condition. I'm
mediately after it has been plowed
it should be rolled. This will tend
to compact the lower areas of sou
and firm the land sufficiently to bring
moisture Immediately to the surface,
thus insuring rapid termination Of
the seed when it is planted. II this
is not done the seed may lie in the
ground for a long period of time
without terminating, Or they may
make a start and then die, and as n
result, a great deal of money mas
been wasted. Moreover, our chief
difficulty in establishing alfalfa in
Georgia is due to the rather dry au-
tumns which prevail here as rule.
Hence anything that will tend to
conserve moisture is matter to be
considered very carefully.
After compaeting the soil harrow
it. Do this every week or ten days.
In this way a very fine seed bed
will be developed. Before the orig
inal blowing is undertaken seo1re
and apply to each acre of land nor
less than two tons of finely ground
raw lime rock running high in car
Donate of lime. This is an essential
matter and under no circumstances
should be overlooked or neglected.
There are many lime mines in Geor
gia now and this material can be Sc
cured. even in the face of high prices
for all other products, at a relative
ly fair cost The application OF
.. lime is one of the things best cal
culated to insure the maintenance of
a stand of alfalfa, hence the failure
to use lime can only be regarded as
grievous error and mistake. When
the land has been plowed and treat
ed as described above put on two
tons of the lime rock. Harrow 1t
into the surface. The last applica-
ton of lime may be made two weeks
before the alfalfa is to be planted.
The tendency of lime is to sink
down into, the soil very quickly
hence one surface, application is de-
sirable. The reader will immediate
ly say, why turn under the two. tons
first mentioned? This is to help