Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1922-08-25
SAM JORDAN TALKS 4
ABOUT ALFALFA


In fifteen years from now we will
have forgotten about lot Of things
that we know need to be done to get
the best with alfalfa.
Fifty years ago we had to pet blue
grass just as much as we now have
to pea tlfaIfa.
To make it short, the land had to
become "acclimated" to bluegrass.
Just so with alfalfa. The land has
to get used to it." You know you
and can just keep on trying-and it
then becomes NATURAL as we say.
Just now we have reached the con-
clusion that any well drained, sweet,
fertile land will successfully grow al
falfa. Just now it is safest to do a
few things that in 15 years we will
not likely need to dc at all.
Inoculation Usually Pays
The chief thing that we now are
likely to need to do, that in few
years hence we will forget about, is
that We should "inoculate" the seed
OF the ground, whichever one might
be e. iest or best. After a while
when our land becomes naturally
adapted to alfalfa" or the land has
all become inoculated with the neces-
sary bacteria, we will then no longer
need to think about this process.
We find that alfalfa can be seeded
almost any time from early spring
to the middle of September. Many
have seeded much later with success,
but it is not so safe. The plants
should be well established before win
ter, in order to endure freezing.
ferhaps more is seeded from Aug
ust lst to September 10Th than dur.
ing any other equal period of time.
Many prefer spring seeding. 1t
should be remembered that any one
method does not have all the good fea-
lures. Much depends on the season
Immediately after the seeding is done
and this, of course, cannot be fore
told. If it is desired to seed this fall,
and the ground has been put in some
crop and cultivated with the idea Of
removing the crop in time for alfalfa
the ground should not be replowed
but when the summer crop is removed
the land should then be well disked
and narrowed, and perhaps rolled. II
lis necessary to have solid seedbed
if this is not done, the young plants
are more likely to heave in the
spring time.
Sow in a Good Seed Bed -.
If land has yet to be plowed, in
such cases where it is desired to SOW
to alfalfa after wheat or oats, the
land should be plowed at once, if pos
sible, then worked down and disked
and narrowed and rolled, then disked
and narrowed again and again until
the soil is well firmed.
While this disldng. narrowing and
rolling is good on, is a good time to
work in some good fertilizer-for
remember, that if you try to grow, al
falfa ON worn-out land you will be
disappointed.
"What fertilizer to use" is always
a question.
First, find out about the acidity of
your soil. Ask your county agent ol
send sample to the University, and
is very acid, lime should be applied
1t is commonly recommended that not
less than one ton of ground limestone
or 1900 pounds of hydrated lime be
supplied. In addition to the lime,
some acid phosphate may well be ap-
piled, for if the land is very sour il
is likely also to be rather poor. In
such an event, use at least 200 pounds
an acre of 16 per cent acid phos-
phate.
If the land is fertile and slightly
acid, then you are likely to get fine
results, with an application of about
$50 pounds of raw bone meal an
acre. Personally, I have had fine re
suits with raw bone meal.
Manures are always in order, but
sometimes not available. Where
barnyard manures are used, care
should be taken that the manures are
free from timothy seed. This mis-
take has cost many man TO lose his
otherwise good stand of alfalfa.
have had good success with seed
from almost all places, and have also
met with failures. am impressed
that we should give some further ex-
periments as to the location where
seed has been grown. Formerly
was rather partial to Dakota seed
but it is doubtful if any seed will
beat Kansas seed. 1 have seen some
of the best fields have ever seen
from Grimm seed, yet have seen i