MH1 Cornell University Library SB 205.A4H7 Getting a start with alfalfa in the corn 3 1924 003 377 615 ;ETT1N€ A START WITH LFALFA N THE CORN BELT By P.G.HOLDEN Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003377615 ebbing a start witn Alfalfa in "one Corn Belb By P. G. Holden Director Agricultural Extension Department ernational Harvester Company of New Jersey Chicago :: USA Alfalfa Excels Every Other Crop In Yield Per Acre — In Feeding Value — As a Drouth Resister — As a Soil Enricher — Make a Beginning — Start Now Grow Some Alfalfa >^f^ ;l^^ m jSettin^ A Start vith Alfalfa? |V in The Corn Belt G. Holdeu Alfalfa is a compara- tively new crop in the United States, but is des- tined to come rapidly into general use. There are few farmers whose profits would not be increased greatly by raising alfalfa. ^^^^ jU^^M n Every farmer should aim Wjt^^V^BjB^M \j to produce, as far as pos- sible, all his food-stuffs upon his own farm. During the last few years, the area devoted to alfalfa has greatly in- creased in the region west of the Missouri River, and it is certain that there will be an equally rapid increase throughout the eastern part of the United States. No More Difficult to Grow Than Clover Many of the attempts in the past to grow alfalfa in the humid regions have failed, but with .our present knowledge of the requirements of the crop there will be little, if any, more trouble in securing a stand of alfalfa than of clover. However, the methods followed in securing a catch of clover will almost certainly fail with alfalfa. Do not be hasty in concluding your stand is poor. It frequently shows up to better advantage the second year. In case the stand is not satisfactory, it is generally better to use the same ground for a second trial than to take a new field. Alfalfa Increases Land Values The land values in those portions of the United States where both corn and alfalfa are grown will always be higher (much higher) than in those regions where only one of these crops can be grown to ad- AEll Missing Page ALFALFA ENRICHES THE SOIL should be summer fallowed, that is, disked or har- rowed, often enough during May, June and the first part of July, to kill the weeds and to prevent the ground from becoming hard. Some time during the last part of July or the very first part of August, the ground should be disked and harrowed and the seed sown at once with a drill, or broadcasted and har- rowed in. Oat or wheat stubble ground manured and fall plowed is especially good for alfalfa. Disk the ground the following spring as soon as dry enough to work, summer fallow and seed as described above. This method will almost certainly secure a stand provided the work is well done. It has the advan- tage of, 1. Clearing the ground of weeds, the greatest enemy of alfalfa. 2. The seeding comes at a slack time when the work can be done without neglecting other crops. 3. It insures a firm, solid seed bed with sufficient moisture to germinate the seed. The only trouble experienced from late summer seeding has been the occasional damage from grass- hoppers along the side of the field where it joins pasture land or old meadow. Good Method for a Small Patch Second. — For a small patch of two or three acres perhaps the second most satisfactory method is to manure a piece of ground near the barn where it can be most conveniently used for hog pasture. The ground should be plowed, fitted and sowed to rape, early in the spring. This should be used for hog pasture during May and June. During the first week of July the rape stubble should be mowed down and the ground thoroughly disked, then plowed and again disked and harrowed. In about two weeks it should again be disked. Any time during the last week of July or the first week of August the ground should be thoroughly disked and worked down so that it is firm and solid. One of the most common mistakes is in not disking the ground before it is plowed and in not making a firm, solid seed bed before sowing. If there should come a rain during the latter part of July or the first Missing Page Missing Page /\Li-ALKA BALANCES THE CORN RATION Manure Most Important There is no one thing that will do more to insure success than twelve to fifteen loads of good barn- yard manure to the acre and where there is not enough manure to cover the ground, it is advisable to use lime and inoculate, and it may be well to use phosphorus. Lime can almost always be used to good advan- tage, and the benefits are especially striking on com- pact clay soils that have been cropped for many years. Inoculation often Beneficial Do not think that artificial inoculation or the use of phosphorus are essential to the growing of alfalfa. Remember that the majority of alfalfa growers have secured a good stand of alfalfa with- out inoculation, or the use of phosphorus, or even lime. In regions where alfalfa has not been grown it is frequently found to be very beneficial to inocu- late the ground by sowing three or four bags of soil secured from a field where alfalfa has been grown for a number of years; or where it is more con- venient, artificial cultures such as nitragin, farmo- germ, etc., may be applied. Applicatipns of acid phosphate, basic slag, or fine ground bone meal, are always beneficial but cannot be regarded as essential to success. Well Prepared Seed Bed Essential A well prepared, firm, solid seed bed, plenty of good barn- yard manure, and summer fallow to kill the weeds, are most important. Then comes lime. Inoculation and phosphorus are frequently beneficial. Ground too wet for com is not suited to alfalfa. Alfalfa seed may be either drilled,, or sowed, broadcasted and harrowed iuj or even disked in, especially if the surface of the ground is dry. Th© seed can be more evenly distributed if one-half is sown in one direction and the other. half sown at right angles. It is always a good plan to sow the seed a little thicker around the edges of the field, as this portion of the field is more subject to itajury from insects, foxtail, etc. U Missing Page MAKE A BEGINNING— START NOW Where alfalfa is used for pasture, care should be taken to avoid pasturing it too closely; it should not ■be pastured down closer than six inches. Don't turn stock on it too early in the spring. Alfalfa on Every Farm Remember that alfalfa can be grown on your farm. It is no more difficult to grow than clover and is more hardy when once established. It adapts itself to all kinds and conditions of soil and climate. 'Alfalfa produces three and sometimes four crops in the Corn Belt. Alfalfa is the cheapest source of protein. When wheat bran is worth $22.00 per ton, good' alfalfa hay is worth $20 to $22 per ton. Alfalfa is the most enriching crop we havej. and .ensures larger yields from the crops that follow. When .a good stand is once secured it lasts for Jo.ur or five years in the humid regions, and mtjoh longer in parts of the West. Alfalfa can be fed to,; all kinds'; of farta animals and has no superior as a hog pasture. Alfalfa adds humus to the soil, resists drouth better than any other crop. As hay alfalfa has no equal, it is rich in protein, the very thing in which our corn and most other crops are deficient. It, therefore, balances up the ration and will save the purchase of high priced fobds. No piece of ground on the .farm .will .bring greater profits than the five or ten acres put into alfalfa, provided the work is done properly and a good stand secured. We All Need Jogging Alfalfa makes two blades of grass grow where but one grew before. It is very difficult for us to undertake a new thing or to grow a new crop, even though we know from the experience of others that it is profitable. We are inclined to go along in the old way. We need jogging to awaken us to the great opportunities around us. We see others growing alfalfa and mak- ing money, but we fail to profit by experience. 13 Missing Page