South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-12
SOME HINTS ON The
GROWTH OF ALFALFA
Drainage and Acidity of the
Soil Are Main Things to
Be Considered.

Because alfalfa is not native
liant OF Indiana some farmers have
the idea that il can not be grown.
other farmers who have tried TO
grow Il as they do other crops in
Indiana. have had failures and in
their disappointment say fl can not
be an Indiana crop
However" sails ". A Ostrander
OF the sails and crops stan, alfalfa
can be made a successful and pro-
htable crop in the state Alfalfa de-
mands conditions different from
corn or wheat. and IL these cOndi-
tions are met. II can be grown as
easily as clover or other crops. AL
falfa is well worth the effort OF max
ing the soil conditions right for it
because Of It's being a constant
source OF legume feed year after
year, regardless Of the weather, pro-
ducing three tons Of the best hay
that can be grown and also furnish
ing excellent hog pasture. When
the soil is in condition TO produce
alfalfa. IL is also in condition TO pro-
duce other crops most profitable"
In making conditions right for al
falfa. drainage should come first.
The soil should not be acid. II it is.
limestone must be literally applied.
A light top dressing OF manure al
ways helps to establish the email.
delicate alfalfa plants in their first
years growth. After the second
year. rough handling does not ma
terially damage alfalfa A hardy
type OF alfalfa must be used. one
that Will grow vigorously under ad-
verse conditions Grimm. has dem
onstrated its true value in the state
by producing large tonnages OF hay
where common has winer killed or
would not stand the adverse condi-
tions that are naturally found
The NTH point that many men
want TO know about Is the time Of
seeding. 1t has been found in
Marshall county that growers seed
ing in April. June and August. and
in some years all have equal success.
It depends more upon how well the
man who is planting the field under
stands his conditions and alfalfa.
The early seeding is good when
hardy seed Is used. when weeds are
few and the ground is in good con-
dition. This means getting II nearly
ready the year previous. June is
an excellent time to seed. particular
ly IN the northern half fthe state
where one IS going to SOW without
nurse crop and will cultivate the
ground thoroughly to kill most of
the weeds. August is the third time
OF seeding. and II seed is sown be-
fore the fall rains. It will generally
produce a good stand If stubble
ground is TO be plOwed up. plenty Of
work must be done to establish
very good seed bed so that the
plants will have every advantage to
get a six-inch growth before frost.
One OF the safest means of deter
mining when is the best time TO Ow
alfalfa is 10 keep in close touch with
the progress and experience in your
county, and then go and do like
wise"
Grimm seed is given good stands
sown at the rate of or 8 pounds
per acre-fully as good as when
common Is sOwn at the rate of 10
pounds alongside of IT, This. then.
does not make the cost Of seeding
the higher priced Grimm any more
per acre, leaving the advantage en-
tirely with Grimm as the more hardy
finer hay, and holding a successful
stand longer.
Because Indiana live stock feed
ers wish a constant supply of leg
ume feed alfalfa is being given. ser
ious consideration by more men OF
the state at the present time than
It has in the past. said Mr.. Ost-
rander. 1T is not easy 20 get If you
have adverse soil conditions 10 cor
rect II is always as easy 10 get a
reseeding OF a field on which there
has been a good stand OF alfalfa as
il is 20 get a good stand of clover or
any other grass Weather condi-
lions many time are adverse. Lack
OF rain a. seeding or a hard beating
rain 10 crust the ground, or both.
would be disasterous. Give alfalfa
the things il needs and it Will re-
ward your efforts