Milford chronicle., 1928-07-27
ALFALFA FOR
DELAWARE FARMS

In accordance with the campaign
for more and better alfalfa on the
farms in this state, which was start
ed last year under the direction o.
the agricultural extension depart
ment of the University of Delaware
attention is being called again this
summer to these farmers who are
expecting to SOW new fields of this
legume, or to reseed old fields, with
regard to the preparation of the
seed bed, soil requirements, proper
fertilization, and other practices
which are essential to the success
full culture of this valuable hay crop
in this section of the country.
The results of this campaign in
Kent county during the past year, as
reported by Agent Russell 3. Will
son, showed that the acreage of al
| falfa has been increased 80 per cent,
making a total of over a thousand
acres which have been sown to this
crop in this county. These facts in
dictate the interest which the farm
ers, and especially the dairymen,
are taking in promoting this alfalfa
program, for they realize the value
of this legume as a hay for their
dairy cattle and other livestock on
the farm.
In preparing to sow alfalfa, how
ever, one of the most important fac
tors to be considered is the type of
soil on which the seed is to be
sOwn, for not all kinds of soil are
suitable for this legume. This fact
is of special Importance to those
farmers who are seeding alfalfa for
the first time, as many crop failures
may be attributed to the seeding of
fields which are not in the proper
state of fertility, and which could
be used to a greater advantage by
being seeded to some other crop.
Alfalfa requires a soil that is in
fairly high state of fertility, as it
will not thrive well on land that is
poorly drained or lacking in suf-
ficient amount of organic matter
and lime.
Another very important thing to
remember in sowing alfalfa is to
use the right kind of seed, for quite
often the variety or strain OF seed
will result in either a success or a
failure for the farmer, as has been
demonstrated upon a number of
different occasions in this state dur
ing the past few years. For this
section of the country, the Kansas
or the Utah, northwestern
grown seed is the strain that is be-
ing recommended, and under no cir
should the southern
grown seed be used. Unless the |
land has produced alfalfa success
fully in previous years, the seed |
should be inoculated either with |
the pure culture or the soil and glue |
method, since many failures in the |
growing of this crop have been due
to the sowing of the uninoculated |
seed. In reseeding old alfalfa
fields, however, it is not always
necessary to inoculate the seed, al
.hOugh this practice is often fol-
owed in order to further insure the
possibilities of securing good
stand.
Lime is also an essential factor in
he profitable culture of this legume,
md no attempt should be made to
low alfalfa seed on land that does
lot contain enough lime to counter
.ct the acidity of the soil, for this
cid condition of the land will retard
he action of the bacteria which are
Introduced through the incubation
or the purpose Of forming the nj
nodules on the
cots of the plants. In order to de-
ermine the degree of acidity of the
oil and the amount OF lime that
nay be necessary to correct this
samples of soil should be
aiken from the field and tested for
heir lime requirements. These soil
amples may be either sent to the
ounty agent, or to the laboratory
f the State Board of Agriculture at
lover, where these tests will be +
lade free Of charge.
The recommended date for sowing
Italia in this county is from Au-
ust Is to %, and the usual rate of
eeding is about Is to 20 pounds to
ne acre. In addition to the lime, it
) also advisable to use from $50 to
DO pounds per acre of high grade
fertilizer, consisting of
2-8-5 or a 2-6-6 analysis, applied
t the time the seed is being drilled.
Those farmers who are expecting
, SOW some alfalfa this summer,
nd who would like to secure addi-
onal information that might per-
in to their individual farms, are
,quested to get in touch with their
)unty agent, who will be glad to
We them all the assistance possible
securing satisfactory stand of
is crop. Those who attend the
Fair at Harrington this
eek are also being cordially in
ted to visit the county agents
,hibit booth, where they will have
e opportunity to discuss these
'oblems in detail and learn more
'out the cultural methods of this
gume as hay crop for our Della
are farms.
INNINGS FEARS NO