Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-08-13
COUNTY AGENT NOTES
Second Crop of Alfalfa


One of the biggest talking points
for alfalfa is the fact that we secure
more than one cutting per year. That
it is wonderful crop is brought out
by this fact and the fact that it pro-
duces such a wonderful feed Many
of US, however, oftentimes abuse
things that are good with results that
are sometimes detrimental. 1t is with
this in mind that we are including the
subject of second cutting of alfalfa
in our notes this week.
We wish to urge all who have al
falfa that is in the making of sec
ond crop at this time not to get over
anxious to cut. In other words, don't
ride a willing horse to death.
Allow your second cutting alfalfa
to get pretty well in to bloom before
you cut it, and if it is a weak, poor
stand allow it to get well in to bloom
stage before thinking about cutting.
By all means those of you who are
contemplating third crop don't at
tempt to take your last crop off the
ground later than the very early part
of September.
How long alfalfa will stand, how
much it will winter kill and the class
of hay which you will take from same
in the years to follow, depends not
only on the class of seed that you
SOW and your seeding methods, but on
how you use the crop after it gets to
producing. Follow a few simple prac-
tees and it will stay with you. AL
low your second crop to get in bloom
before cutting.
Cutting of Sweet Glover for Seed
A good many people this year have
sweet clover producing seed for the
first time, and there are many bush
els of sweet clover seed that could
be cut along the roadside.
1t seems advisable to consider the
harvesting of this crop of seed as it
is very much in demand. Sweet clover
in itself produces large quantities of
seed, but it is one crop from which
the seed is hard to harvest. In fact
sweet clover seeds will drop to the
ground with any kind of rough hand
ling after it is ripe. Therefore, let us
suggest few simple practices in cut
ting sweet clover for seed. First of
all allow it to get fairly ripe before
cutting, otherwise, seeds will shrink.
Secondly, unlike other seed crops
Sweet C1OfGI OC SuL W1Sh CAAN
dew is on it, as it will help to hold
the seed. In fact it should even be
threshed at the time when it is moist.
We would advocate the use of a Glow
er buncher for cutting, and handle as
little as possible, until it is threshed.
| would like to suggest to some OF
the people who own roadsides that
are we'll supplied with sweet clover
that it is an opportunity for revenue
in large enough quantities to assist
materially in paying the taxes. In
times such as we have now it might
be we'll to consider all these sources
of income. Watch the sweet clover.
Improve Land Fertility Now
Let us consider the best methods
of improving our land for another year
at this time. Many of us are going to
be forced to plant corn next year on
the same ground. Let us consider the
ACCESSIBILITY therefore, of sowing sweet
clover in the corn the last time
through. We would suggest that you
SOW it only in fields that are quite
clean, and then cultivate just the sur
face. From to 10 lbs. of seed per
acre will be sufficient to get you a
good stand. In the spring you will
find a very nice crop of sweet clover
by the time you wish to pillow for corn.
It might be we'll to consider that one
ton of green manure is equal to from
10 to II tons OF barnyard fertilizer.
This is merely suggestion and we
feel certain that such procedure Will
do much to eliminate the action OF the
corn root louise, and also grubs and
cut worms that have done consider
able damage this year. This is prac-
tice worth your consideration.
Your County Needs Your Cooperation
Don't forget that your county will
compete with other counties OF the
state the last week in August for non
ors along the line of farm crop shows.
You can help materially in the mat
ter of making the Grant county show
good one. Much depends upon the
quality that we show in the booth. II
you have a good sample of small
grain. select us a sample of this ma
terial so that we can show it in our
sheaf exhibit of grains. 1t takes
bundle about six inches through at
the center band of good heads and
long strawed grain to make sample
Help us to win by BRINGING in samples
of this kind to the office.
Also, we are in search of good
samples of buckwheat, field peas, soy
beans and other grains that are
threshed.
Your assistance in this matter will
be appreciated and you will be given
recognition in our booth at Milwau-
kee, as each sample carries the name
of the party from whom it is secured.
Help Grant County,. B. keenan,,
Co Agent.