The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-05-04

ment. Old fields may be reseeded,
after blowing; but usually the crop
should be sown in a new field. If
reseeding is planned, only the
hardest seed should be used. Seed
from varieties grown in northern
states has proved more hardy than
that grown in southern states.
The northern strains have out
yielded non-hardy strains at the
Irrigation Branch station at Pros
ser. Grimm and Northern common
alfalfa are exceptionally winter
hardy. &.7.. IN
+ When choosing between varie-
ties, common alfalfa should be Sc
lected where exceptionally severe
winter conditions are not usually
encountered. Grimm should be re-
served for conditions where win
ter killing is frequent. In either
case northern grown seed is abso-
ultely essential. g..
In order to insure hardness,
purchase only certified or verified
origin seed. Both brands bear tags
Indicating the state in which the
seed was grown. Grimm is certi-
fled; common alfalfa bears the ver-
flied origin tag. Insist on definite
origin. Blendid verified origin seed
is mixture from different states
and is not safe.
Field examinations clearly indl-
cate that late fall irrigation was
one of the outstanding features in
protecting alfalfa against winter
injury. Subirrigated parts of fields
showed similar protection. Fields
showing the least injury were
those irrigated in November to the
point where the soil was thorough
ly wet.
Frequent cutting increased the
susceptibility to winter injury.
Fields cut for hay between the
one-fourth and the one-haf bloom
stage will Withstand winter con-
ditions much better than those cut
at earlier stages. Close pasturing,
late in the fall always endangers
the stand during severe winters.
Substitute Crops
Something must be done at once
to insure enough hay and other
forage to replace the loss in alfal-
ia. On many farms the acreage
lost is large. What crops can be
used to the best advantage and
forage can come nearest in taking
the place of alfalfa?
Corn is especially well suited to
fit into this emergency. 1t can be
used as green crop or a crop for
the silo. 1t could also be handled
heaply in the form of dry fodder
or forage. Those having silos
should by all means fill them this
fall. In the absence of permanent
silo, a trench or a pit silo could
easily be constructed as low cost.
Alfalfa ground is well suited for
corn. The yield and quality should
be excellent.
Oats and barley may be consid-
cred favorable as crops harvested
for grain. A limited amount of
grain might find a ready market.
Oats make a fine quality of hay if
cut before fully ripe.
In most instances additions must
be made to supply the deficiency
in succulent feeds. A limited acre
age of stocks squash and roots
could be used in the livestock IA
ton with good results. Carrots and
potatoes are fine feed, and will
yield heavily in the irrigated Sec
tions.
Sweet clover should be consider
ed as crop that will develop
quickly and one that can be had
at low cost. Lands that are show
ing an increasing amount of al
kali could be used for this crop.
Strawberry clover will produce
well on wet lands that have still
higher concentration of alkali.
This clover is satisfactory pas
ture plant.
With an array of plants like
these, it should be easily possible
to meet the emergency. Crops must
be selected for their value, and to
suit the particular condition that
is involved.