The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1921-03-17

starts off producing . bumper crop
and giving during the whole of the
second year much heavier yields than
IL compelled to compete for exist
ance the year before with some other
crop.
The practice il all too common in
northern Colorado Of attempting to
start alfalfa while at the same time
harvesting = heavy grain srop. there
Wy causing the alfalfa to suffer in
the following Particular:
I. A lack Of uniform stand.
2. A lack Of sunshine to produce
. strong, healthy plant.
3. A weak, spindling alfalfa
plant suffering from moisture at a
time when the land must be left dry
to harvest the grain crop.
4. Killing out where the shocks
stand due to the absence Of moisture
and sunshine; aid loss Of stand az
fccting the yield for years to come.
Alfalfa seed may b. sown very
successfully with . pressed drill, the
press used being quite serviceable in
firming the soil TO the seed, but the
best results are obtained by broad
cast seeding, either by machine or
by hand. thus distributing the seed
more extensively and uniformly than
Ivy drill. In either event, whether
by drill or broadcast, the seed should
be distributed on the surface Of the
soil after which It should be given a
light narrowing followed by . roller,
preferably q Western Land roller.
II any other roller 10 used the sur
face should be roughsned very light
ly to prevent blowing in case of
winds or to relieve . crust, should
one occur by reason Of . beating
storm.
The time to seed Il when danger
Of frost becomes infrequent, say
from the middle Of April 70 the mid
die Of May. provided one wishes to
take advantage Of the most favorable
moisture conditions.
II the water supply Is such that
sufficient water for irrigation may
b had at any time during the sum-
msr months, very good success may
b had BY prsparipg TIE land in July
after taking off . grain crop; seed
ing q oaes and irFigatins for germ
ination. No nurse crop Is essential
either for the alfalfs or ~ . money
return from the land. The weeds
will not become plentiful and the
alfalfa will attain sufficient size to
withstand the rigors Of winter. =
Since We have come to raise cor
siderable eern in this country anoth-
or method that can be employed Il
to sow the seed In the corn during
June or July after the civilizations
have destroyed the weeds. To en-
ploy this method It il essential that
the cultivation and furrowing for ir-
riGation be such A. to keep the land
quite level. The only objection to
Il II the slow manner In which the
seed must be sown and covered,
hence It IL the most applicable to
small farms.
Alfalfa by nature perfects itself
in . growing period Of about six to
eight weeks under certain conditions
q heat and moisture. In northern
Colorado II distributes itself in three
cuttings over the growing period.
In some places in Arizona it distri-
butes over five or six cuttings per
year. It can be destroyed by cut
ting Il in periods Of greater or lsR
time than nature has provided foi
healthy results. Being In = position
to take advantage % this principle
II growth. when starting u field Of
clfalfa, Ia one Of the arguments for
seeding It by itself in such q way
that when these natural periods Of
decay appear and new growth begins
the farmer may assist nature in the
process.
Alfalfa Is the queen Of crops in
northern Colorado and demands
much more consideration and NOR,
careful methods Of handling than il
has ever received In the past. The
average yield ID too small and to the
improper starting Of the crop lies
In no small degree the cause of this
rcsult-H. H. Griffin, Agricultural
Superintendent. Fort Collins in
Through The Leaves"