SOME ALFALFA “MUSTS” AND “DON’TS”
A Knox county, Ohio, man, in expressing himself as to some of the requisites for success with alfalfa, as observed from his viewpoint has this to say:
“I have known about alfalfa from boyhood; been familiar with it for thirty years, and have grown it successfully on many soils, from a stiff clay, upwards. The failures which I have seen have been accounted for by the non-performance of some of the essentials. There are certain ‘musts’, not ‘shoulds,’ to be observed to secure success. Here they are from my experience:
“First of all the seed must be pure, of high germinating power, and of the highest possible vitality. If I doubted my own proficiency in these determinations, I would consult the nearest experiment station. I have had occasion to consult experiment stations, from New Jersey to Wisconsin, on various subjects, and in every instance have met with prompt and valuable—and sympathetic—assistance.
“The soil must have lime; either as one of its natural constituents, or lime must be added. If the soil is deficient, then the lime must be incorporated with the soil some months before seeding.
“The land must have efficient drainage, either natural, or, as in the case of clay and heavy clay loams, artificial.
“The land must be fertile to a depth of at least nine inches. Beyond that depth the taproot in its search for water will take care of itself.”
Another writer, impressed by practices he regards as reprehensible, enumerates them as follows:
“Don’t sow any nurse crop.
“Don’t sow on freshly plowed land, no matter how carefully prepared.
“Don’t let weeds or grass grow over six inches high without clipping.
“Don’t clip or mow when wet with rain or dew.
“Don’t let alfalfa stand; if turning yellow, cut it.
“Don’t sow old seed.
“Don’t sow less than twenty pounds per acre, one-half each way.
“Don’t sow twenty-five acres at first; sow five.
“Don’t pasture it.
“Don’t put any of the rotten manure anywhere but on your alfalfa plot.
“Don’t depend upon ‘culture cakes’ or soil from some distant field.
“Don’t let any water stand on it.
“Don’t let it go if a thin stand, but disk in more seed; don’t be afraid you will kill it.
“Don’t replow the land, disk it.
“Don’t wait for it to stool; it never does.
“Don’t try to cut for hay until the alfalfa takes the field.
“Don’t sow on any land not well underdrained.
“Don’t leave your land rough; use a roller or a plank float to level and smooth it.
“Don’t give up.”
ALFILERILLA OR “ALFILARIA”
(Erodium citcutarium.)
On account of the similarity of its name to that of alfalfa and the possibility of the two plants being confused in the minds of those not acquainted with them, it is proper to make mention here of the plant referred to in the caption above. It is not generally known nor widely distributed, and has as yet its principal habitat in semi-arid parts of the southwestern United States. The Century Dictionary calls it Pin-clover or Pin-grass, and classifies it with the Geranium family. Webster’s Dictionary speaks of it as a weed in California. It is an annual and seeds profusely; a few seeds scattered over quite a large area result in a thorough seeding the second year. A stockman in Arizona writes that it will grow on any kind of soil except alkali; that it was introduced from Australia by sheep carrying it in their wool. It is a southern plant and should not be seeded largely north of the northern line of Oklahoma until tested by the experiment stations. It should not be confused with alfalfa, as it is entirely dissimilar and not related.
In discussing this plant an Arizona editor writes the following:
“It is by no means a new or experimental crop, for it was the main reliance of Arizona stockmen during ten years of drouth. We suppose that the experiment stations in the West have given it little attention because it is as well known as alfalfa here, and millions of acres are covered with it in various portions of the Territory.
“We know from many years experience that alfilaria will thrive and keep stock in good condition where no grass roots would live through one of the dry seasons. It is peculiarly adapted to the poorer soils in western Kansas, Nebraska, the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico, and portions of the northern section of Mexico.
“Its merits are that it will grow in seasons so dry that other forage fails and that it will keep cattle in better health and condition as to flesh and growth than anything else we can grow in Arizona, not excepting alfalfa. In the spring cattle and horses will go miles to find it and it is better than ‘condition powders’ to put them in condition for summer growth.
“What it will do on other classes of soil, under excess of moisture, is a matter of experiment; but where it is needed most—as above outlined, there is nothing that has ever been tested under these adverse conditions which can compare with alfilaria. This will be certified to by every ranchman and cattleman in this section of Arizona.”