The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-11
ALFALFA GROWN IN ALABAMA

Ience and observation, and also through linfcrmation and data collected from county agents and from men, farmers who
 are actually engaged in the growing of al- falfa, considers the following soil types i adapted to alfalfa production in the or der named:
 l l. Trinity clay or Houston clay. tile drained.
 2. Trinity clay. well drained naturally.
 8. Houston claM Mywell drained naturally. Alfalfa does Well on almost any we'll drained soil that is sufficiently supplied
 with lime, phosphorus and potash. Trese
 elements appear to be in abundance in the central lime belt of the state, where al- falfa has been tried out.
 1 Fall Sowing-Fall sowing should be done August 15 to September 25, and seed bed | Ialways rolled before and after planting. | The advantage of fall sowing over spring sowing is that the young plants get a good start in the fall free from weeds, and are better able the following spring
 to make vigorous and rapid growth and I thus more successfully resist the intrusos of weeds and grasses that start early in
 tho spring, and that very often interfere I with, spring sown alfalfa The young l plants are very tender and feeble during the first four weeks. Therefore 1t IS necessary to get the alfalfa in as early l III the Tall ana BlNt tne yQdtiS pAobe9 N~ | good healthy growth before the first
 freezes come. which is usually in the lat
 ter part of December eariy in January. ] Fall sown alfalfa gives a further ad-
 vantage over spring sowing of yielding
 more cuttings the first year.
 | The chief drawbacks to fall sowing of alfalfa are the following;
 1 | The farmers are usually busy harvest l ing other crops and getting them ready | for the market just at the time when ] seed bed should be prepared and sowing done.
 l 2 September and October are months ! Of lightest rainfall. Hence preparation
 and germination may not always be sat- 1 isfactory. l g. Growing crops may not beS removed lin time from lands oq. which it is desired l to SOW alfalfa.
 ! Spring Sowing-Spring sowing is done during the months of February, March and up until April 15. The advantages ] of spring sowing over fall sowing of at l faifa are the following:
 1 | Alfalfa sown during February will come on in time to crowd out early spring weeds and grasses so that three or four I perfect cuttings can be made. 1 9 Seed bed may be prepared during the winter months when the farmer has l plenty of time, and after all crops have 1 been removed from those lands on which 1 it is desired to SOW.
 | B. Labor that might otherwise be idle during part of the winter months may be utilized.
 4 Preparation of seed bed is not so diff
 fcult during the winter as in early fall
 due to the fact that we have sufficient I rainfall during winter to make break | ing easy.
 l 5 Unfailing spring flowers guarantees sufficient moisture for rapid germination and plant development
 1 Rate of Sowing-The amount of seed sewn per acre depends very largely upon 1 the preparation of seed bed and the method of sowing,
 ] Excellent stands are secured from twelve to fifteen pounds of seed per acre
 drilled where preparation is thorough.
 If the seed bedd is not well prepared more | seed are required
 l Where seeds are sown broadcast, with
 the hand, mhetod that is not generally practiced in this state, twenty to thirty pounds are required If the broadcasting method is isNemployed, the seed should be
 divided and "cross sowing" made. Time of Cutting-The number of cut tings the quality and yield depends large 1 lv on time of cutting. Results obtained at the Kansas experiment. station show | that with hay cut when one-tenth III : bloom the protein content is 1S.5 per cent; when one-haif in bloom, 17.2 per cent,
 and when in full bloom. 144 per cent ] Time of cutting should be governed both>by the blooming stage and the basil
 shoots As soon as the basil shoots ap- pear and the plant starts blooming cut | ting should be done in order to make way for the succeeding crop. l Suggestion to Prospective Alfalfa | Grow ers-The state department Of asri- ! culture and industries, realizing the grow ing importance of alfalfa as q money crop, both from the standpoint of hay and as a grazing crop for all classes or livestock, offers it's assistance to farm CTS throughout the state in making tests and physical surveys for the purpose or discovering those soils best adapted 10 the growing of alfalfa.