4fc
HOME COURSE
IN SCIENTIFIC
AGRICULTURE
SEVENTEENTH ARTICLE.
ALFALFA AS A FOR
AGE PLANT.
7 H A. MOORE of the Inlverslty ol
Wtaonsla Afxkullural E
perineal Ststioa.
ALFALFA can truly be called the
queen of foraire plants. No
J other forage combines so many
essentials of merit as alfalfa.
No other plant has carried with tt
more itratlnVatiou to the dairy faruier
nor Oils such a long felt want. No
foraire plant Is more readily relished
by farm animals or .aervlses a more
beneficial effect upon the soil.
To determine how extensively al
falfa was grown by the Wisconsin
Experiment association requests were
sent to 800 to report on the acreage
frown by them In 1911. A summary
of 240 reports received shows that the
Photo by long Inland agricultural experi
ment station.
ALFALFA FLAMT, 8H0Wrl EXCELLENT
BOOT BYHTKH WITH BACTERIA INITBOGtM
KOKL'LtS.
members reporting grew a total of
2,324 acres, or an average of 9.6 acres
each.
For instance, twenty years ago al
falfa was practically a stranger In
Wisconsin, but Its Introduction and
dissemination have gone on at such a
rapid pace that tt seems safe to esti
mate that there are at least 20,000
acres now grown In the state.
Ex-Governor Hoard of Wisconsin
'was the first man In his state to recog
nize the great importance of alfalfa as
a forage plant, and he has grown al
falfa and disseminated knowledge re
garding It continuously for the past
twenty years. It Is safe to say that
Mr. Hoard has grown more alfalfa
than any other man In the state.
Alfalfa is noted for its high feeding
value and the great fondness farm ani
mals have for it It belongs to the
legume family, or legumluosae. to
which the common red clover belongs.
Alfalfa through Its large root growth
exerts a beneficial effect upon the soil
on which It grows and through its
power to feed on the soil elements and
secure moisture at great depth below
the surface Is able to stand severe
droughts and maintain Itself upon the
soil for many years without the neces
elty of reseeding.
When It Is desired to plow an alfalfa
field the strong root growth of the al
falfa will severely Interfere with the
plowing unless the plowshare is kept
sharp.
Except where alfalfa has become
thoroughly established upon the farm,
no attempt has been made to encour
age a regular rotation with other crops.
On account of the special care given
to the selection and proper fitting of
the field for alfalfa it has seemed ad
visable to leave the alfalfa on the same
field as long as It produced well.
As soon as conditions are unfavora
ble and the field becomes patchy and
crowded with June grass and white
clover it is best to cut the alfalfa late
In the season and then plow. The field
the following season should be put Into
corn or some other cultivated crop and
intensive cultivation practiced to sub
due weeds. The year following the In
tensive cultivation the field can be
sown to alfalfa to advantage.
The weight of green forage obtained
per acre from alfalfa for the season is
approximately double that of clover,
three times the weight of timothy and
five times the weight of liroine grass.
The proportions for tiny are nearly as
great in favor of alfalfa as in the
case of green substance.
Alfalfa yields three times as much
total protein per acre as clover, 11I110
times as much protein as timothy and
twelve times as much protein as broiue
grass.
At $20 a ton for the hay pood alfalfa
will yield forage valued at $l'K)an acre.
Land that will grow alfalfa Is readily
worth $200 an acre. As a!f;ilfa Is a
perennial plant, if established under
the proper environments, It will con
tinue to grow and give three or four
cuttings a year for many yens.
The seed is somewhat like red clover,
ay a Tittle larger and Dot so plump,
tt la yellow or an olive green. There
re several vartetlee of seed, with a
great variation In price according to
the variety. Kirluieote at the Wis
consin station show that of all north
ern grown needs not grown under Irri
gation methods the preference wa for
the seed showing best germination re
gnrdlosa of variety.
I'autlou should be exercised as to
the location of the Held. Alfalfa ran
be grown 011 a wide variation of tolls,
yet on Its first trial on a farm It la
beet to sow on high, well drained land.
A rich clay loam ou top of gravel or
limestone is the Ideal location, but It
will grow on all types of soil, varying
frotu a heavy clay to a medium sandy
loam. If other conditions are favorable.
A gentle slope should lie selected. On
level laud water will gather on the
surface from rains or melting snow,
a od if f reeling weather follows to
will form and smother the plants. The
fields will then become patchy and
should be plowed and reseedod. For
the same reason a creek or river bot
tom that Is subject to overflow should
uot be selected, as the alfalfa plants.
If submerged for a few hours, will die
from suffocation, I-aml that has the
water line only two or three feet be
low the surface should be avoided, aa
the plant needs well drained soils.
The natural home for alfalfa la on
limestone soils or soils that have a
goodly supply of carbonate of Mm In
them. No matter how favorable other
conditions may be. If the soil la sour
and gives a strong add reaction It will
be necessary to neutralize the acidity
to some extent before It will be possi
ble to get the best results.
Add land can occasionally be deter
mined by plants such as sheep sorrel
and mare's tall that thrive thereon. It
enn always be determined by testing
with blue lllmus paer which cau 1
obtained from the druggist. Take some
molt earth from a few Inches tienenth
the surface of the ground and press
It firmly over a strip of litmus paiHT.
Io not handle the litmus paper when 1
the bands are moist, as the perspira
tion from them may cause the aer to
show an acid reactlou when uo acid
is present in the soil. After the paper
has remained In the soli for ten or
fifteen minutes. If It has changed In
color from a blue to a pink or rod, the
soil is acid, and this acidity should be
corrected to a certain degree before
alfalfa can l grown to advantage.
The beginner should sow only a small
acreage until he has studied the condl
Hons of the farm In relation to thia !
crop. One or two acres are sufficient to 1
start with. Land that has been in ,
youuc sod the orevlous vear and then '
run to potaties, corn, peas or some
root crop where clean culture was
practiced Is most suitable. This
should be fall plowed seven or eight
Inches deep, so as to have a deep, mel
low seed bed
In the early spring run the disk over
the land and then follow with a fine
tooth harrow at weekly Intervals until
about June 1, ao the weeds will sprout
and be killed. The alfalfa seed Is then
sown without any nurse crop, using
twenty pounds per acre. The practii-e
of sowing alfalfa with a nurse crop is
being displaced by the method of sow
ing the seed alone and with much bet
ter results. Where the land Is ex
tremely weedy It is advisable to sum
mer fallow and sow to alfalfa the first
week In August If weedy the land
should be plowed after the crop Is re-
moved and a fine tooth harrow run at
intervals to kill weeds through the hit- I
ter part of summer and early fall. For !
best results one ton of earth per acre
should be scattered Immediately pre
ceding the sowing of the alfalfa seed.
Occasionally the alfalfa will come Into
bud and hesitate to blossom. Sprouts
will then Immediately start nt the base.
It should be cut when those conditions
prevail, even though no blossoms ap
pea r.
In the afternoon of the same day of
cutting, if weather has been favorable.
the alfalfa can be raked and put Into
small cocks. The cocks should not be
left standing In the field more than
two or three days during wet weather
without moving or the alfalfa plants
underneath the cocks will be partially I
or completely smothered. By running 1
a pitchfork Into a cock of alfalfa near ! t should be the rule never to handle
the bottom one can easily move the : manure more than once. When re
plle. If alfalfa is exceedingly green , moved frmn ,., hrn . f,wuI1D, Khed.
when cocked or rainy weather sets In
It will heat unless the cocks are open
ed every day or two. In favorable
weather no more difficulty will be ex
perienced in curing alfalfa than in cur
lug heavy growths of clover. A much
better quality will be secured if the
crop Is cured under hay caps.
The Importance and popularity of the
plant are such that the present acreage
in Wisconsin will probably double In
the next three years. For the past
twelve years the department of agron
omy of the Wisconsin experiment sta
tion has carried on experiments and
issued bulletins bearing uim the cul
ture of alfalfa. The call for Informa
tion has been so great that the last
bulletin Is entirely exhausted, and ne
cessity demands a new edition.
An association of select alfalfa
growers and experimenters, known as
the Alfalfa Order of the Wisconsin
Experiment association, has been re
cently organized. The aim and pur
poses of the organization are to grow
alfalfa and disseminate knowledge re
garding It. The association Is co-operating
closely with the college of ag
riculture so as to secure Information
from niimemnH experiments and tests
to benefit all alfalfa growers of the
state. The organization now has a
niemlieislilp of 500, and sixteen tons
of seed have been purchased by the
members of the season of 1!II2. From '
the large numbers engaged In this co-
operative work much useful Informn- !
tion can lie secured that
g!-e;:t honolit to the alfalfa
general.
Farm and
i Garden
DO YOU GROW SWEET CORN?
Ne
Crop Rupond. B.tLr to Qoed
Treatment Than Thia One.
Every truck faruier knows that the
first early sweet corn In the market
pays aa great a profit aa any crop
grown.
It Is usually sold by the hundred and
marketed In aacks routalulug (hat
uumbcr of ears. The fodder remain
ing after the crop la sold Is nearly as
valuable as timothy bay. The best
profit comes from the earliest acres,
says a writer In the Farmer's Hevlew.
Sweet corn cannot be shipped a great
distance, as It deteriorate rapidly;
' -.
, to . T J
I'tiotogriiph by Lena lal.ind agricultural
cxirltnt'nt station.
SWEET COItN AMI LIMA HUM.
therefore the local grower does not
have such competition aa does the
grower of less perishable products.
Sandy or light loam soil, with an
open subsoil. Is best for this crop.
The very best seed of the beat and
UKst P"!"''r varieties should be pro-
vl,,wL llolne Krown "1I'H'1-
RIul Wl" curi'l- wl" l",r bl ''r"m
oa tlie eo1 t,f l"l'"r employed for this
1 work. The first plantings must lie
! made early In the season, and seed
' only of the greatest vitality will with
stand the unfavorable weather condi
tions that are likely to prevail at this
season.
The cultivation of this crop should
lie thorough, ami no crop will respond
sooner to good treatment
To aucceed In growing sweet corn
for the early market a liberal amount
of plant food must be provided at the
tight time and In available form.
This means cover crops and an In
creased use of commercial fertilisers.
M Pi t-t4 i i-t-t M-M-M-t4 l"S-t-M
Roosters not needed, loafing
hens, boarding cows, small litter
sows, run down soil these are
what hold a farmer dowu. Iowa
1 y
Homestead.
- , ,.........'
'rwm-wi-im-l
Dry Fed or Wt Mash?
The wet mash of cornmenl and bran
that used to be the standard morning
feed of the farm flock seems to be go-
, Ing out of style In favor of the hopper
j full of a mixture of dry ground grain.
! The new plan is better for large flocks.
I hut for a small flock the wet mash has
! advantages. For one thing It Is easier
to keep up the water supply than
where the fowls are given all dry
I grain. Another point is that the con
stant presence of dry feed attracts
rats, while the wet mash as usually
fori u-tll l.a ut..n nr. fll.uln -im...Unn
cultivator
Hand Manur. snc. a'i
it should be loaded at once Info the
spreader and hauled to the field. If
the farm is small and the amount pro
duced Is only nt the rato of one or two
loads a week, the convenience and Im
provement of taking It directly from
the stable mid spreading It at once on
the field will certainly Justify driving
the manure spreader slowly .-Orange
Judd Farmer.
ALL AROUND THE GARDEN.
As soon as the cutting of rhubarb
j stalks is over give the ground a good
1 dressing of manure.
I Cauliflower can be grown more easi
ly than cabbage. It Is always In de
mand at good prices.
j Wild strawberries have the most de-
I Melons flavor. They ore easily trnns-
j planted to the garden.
I Do not neglect to mark the wild
j flowers now which you wish to trans-
plant Inter In the border.
In some sections of the country the
practice of mulching potatoes Is fol
lowed by a number of growers.
I'lck the blossoms of pansles, nastur
tiums and sweet peas every day. If
allowed to seed they cease to bloom. '
Very fine fruit and large yields can
be secured from tomatoes by setting
posts anil running horizontal wires
similar to the grape trellis,
Where the soil Is strong a good crop
of vegetables may be raised between
v
will be of 1 the rows of trees In the young or
growers in chard. This means cultivation and
manuring. Farm Progress.
Town's full of
Studcbakers
SturJrbakrr Farm Wagons, Studebokcr Bug
gtca and Studcbakcr Delivery Wagons.
and every owner of a Studebaker vehicle
is proud of it. Because he knows it is the beat.
Studebaker wagons and buggies are built on honor
and with the experience that comes from eiity year
of wagon building, and you get the benefit of this
experience when you buy Studebaker vehicle
you live In town or cotintrvt whether you want a
work of pleasure vehicle, (hen's a Studebaker to all your requite
rstm wagon, contractors waguna, trucks, municipal
vehicles, ice wagon, dump wagons and crt. road oilers, busgtra,
depot wmjon. tuirey. pony carts, runabouts we auk them li.
lo haine, fur mnr ieJ animl. loe any vehicle, ui the
aame high Uadatd oi quality as die bludebaaar vsluUo.
5c our Wr er afrit as.
STUDEBAKER South Bend, Ind.
NW VOSIt I'lllCAOO I1ALLAJ KAHIA1 OTT tlSKVM
MINNUroLIt SAL t LAKS CITY iAM FTLANCIVO fOBTLAMt), OSS.
D. P. Adamson & Co.,
Druggists
For Drug., Patent Medicines, Chemicals
Lownev's Candies, Ice Cream Soda, Sta
tionery and Prescriptions see
D. P. Adamson & Co.
DeLAVAL
Cream Separators
Sold on Easy Terms
Pioneer
Prineville, Oregon
THROUGH NIGHT TRAIN DAILY
BETWEEN
Cent'l Oregon! Portland
wOregonTruiRv
Tourist Sleeping Cars,
To Central Oregon Points
Leave I'ortland 7:00 p.m.
Arrive MadraB 0:00 a.'m.
Metutiuh. . . .0:1") a.m.
" Culver 0:28 a.m,
" Terrebonne .7:08 a.m.
" Redmond . .7:23 a.m.
'! IeBchutH . .7:43 a m.
" Bend !. 8:00 a.m.
ConnoctioBB for Willamette Valley, I'uget Hound Spokane, Mon
tana and eaHtern points. Details and foldern at oflico or by mail,
W.C. WII.KK9, n. jr. CIlOZtER,
Aunt. Gen. V. & P. Agent. Aunt. Gen. Push. Agent.
JI. BAUKOL, Agent, Redmond, Ore. 8 21-tf
Cream Co.
CENTRAL OREGON LINE
First-Class Coaches
From Central Oregon Points
Leave Bend 8:30 p.m.
" Penohutea . . 8:48 p.m.
B'jdmond . . 9:10 p.m.
" Terrebonne . 9:24 p.m.
" Culver 10:02 p.m.
" MetoliiiH 10:i0p.m.
" MadraH .... 10:30 p.m.
Arrive Portland ., 8:10 a.m.
HAVE YOU
Filed your Deed? Of Course.
HAVE YOU
An Ahatrnct?
(Yrtnltily fVer.vone liaaaii aUtrai't now.
lo von know utipre your cuni.ri are.
Well, No, Not eaai'tly.
Brewster Engineering Company.
I'mo'VlHo, Ol.K.in, will locate llinu lor
,oii ami Kiinianlee the otk. Survey
ing, ri.lilnc. Irrigation Kiiglneeriiig.
I'lione I'lonmr
i " RECEPTION "
J
Champ Smith, Propr
Imported sind Domestic
J Cigars
Famous Whiskies
J Old Crow; I lertnitnge; Red
Top Rye; Yellow Stone;
A Canadian Club; Crenm
i Rye; Jnmes E. Pepper,
I Moore'a Malt.
4
Porter, Ale and Olympia
Draft Beer on Tap.
!
' 4 Imported Wines and
1:
The Brosius Bar
Finest Brands of Wines,
Liquors and Cigars.
LAGER BEER ON DRAUGHT
F. E. BROSIUS, Proprietor
Coroner's Coctail
Mix three chorus girls with
aa many men and soak in
clianipuiKn until midiiilit.
S(iicr. into an auto. Add a
d h el joy and 11 drunken
chauffer. Shuke well. Serve at
seventy mile an hour
And do not forget that we tin
all kin J of piioto work. If
you are wanting haying or
harvesting pirtnrea, get our
prices. Wo are coimtantly
adiling new apparatus and
doing belter work. Sew our
latent work and be convinced.
Amateur Unletilng done neatly
mill iiilckly. Mall onlera nl
teniled to promptly. I'lnito
work exi'hiitiKiMl fur wood.
LAFLER S STUDIO
We Strlvo to I'lenae
Fruit Trees!
f ntial flrvonn fleriun
The only kind you can afford
to plant. ILLUSTRATED
...VTALOGUE FREE. .Write
fur one. I'rlcoH low enough
to HiirprlHe ytm,
Lafollette Nursery Co.
Prinrvilte, tl-0 Oregon
The Oregon Bar
At the Old Stand
G. W. Wiley & Co., Prps
All kinds of Choice Liquors
Wines and Cigars.
Famous Ranier Beer in
Bottles and on Draft.