OCR Text |
Show SOWING ALFALFA CROP NO PLANT 13 MORE AFFECTED BY CONDITIONS. In All Regions Not Under Irrigation 1 Advice Is Almost Universally Given Giv-en to Plant In Rows From 30 1 to 36 Inches Apart. (By PROF. THOMAS SHAW.) The last word has not been said yet as to the best way to sow alfalfa. Some who pose as teachers on this question are very sure that their advice ad-vice is correct. The less the experience experi-ence these men have had in growing it, the more positive are they that they are correct. There is no plant that is more affected by conditions. The plan, therefore, that is best in one locality may be far from the best in another. It is greatly important, therefore, that all those differences ehall be noted, and noted carefully. In all the region not under irrigation irriga-tion from the western rim of the Red River valley to the Cascade Mountains the advice is almost universally given to grow alfalfa in rows from 30 to 36 inches apart. Under some conditions of growth the advice is good. Under other conditions it is misleading. Where the conditions are very dry, 1' may be best to grow the crop in rows ppaced thus widely. But it will probably prob-ably be found that in much of the dry country it will be better to grow it in rows not more than say 12 inches distant. dis-tant. One objection to growing the crop in wide-spaced rows arises from the soiling of the crop when it is being harvested. When it is mowed, much of it falls on bare soil. The horses that draw the mower tramp over it. This aids in the soiling of the crop, more or less. It is then raked, and the raking process adds more to the adherent dust. Of course, where the conditions are such that it cannot be grown without spacing the rows thu3 widely, this is one of the things that must be borne with. If the crop is sown with the grain drill, and every other drill tube is plugged, the rows will then be about twelve inches apart. The plants will then have a fair amount of room, if small quantities of the seed are used. The crop may then be kept clean with the disk and harrow, a process that is much quicker than the cultivation of the wide-spaced rows can be. There would then be enough of plants on the ground to keep the crop from being be-ing soiled with earth while it is being harvested. The question may be raised, how is one to know in the absence of experience, experi-ence, whether to plant in wide-spaced rows or in those that are closer? The answer is, that it can only be known by trying. Before rushing blindly into in-to the matter and planting a large area one way or the other, it is better to go a little slower and plant only a moderate quantity by each of the two methods. Of course, where one of these has been tried and found successful, suc-cessful, under the same conditions, this experience may be safely taken is a guide for that locality. Where the rainfall Is not less than 14 or 15 Inches in a year, it has yet to be proved that it is better to grow alfalfa in wide rows than otherwise, when it is grown for hay. Possibly it may be different when it is grown for seed. More light is wanted on this question. Should the average rainfall rain-fall be as low as 10 to 12 inches, it will probably be found that it will pay better to grow it in wide spaced rows. In dry areas the preparation of the soil is greatly important. The preparation prepa-ration should be such that much moisture mois-ture will go down. If the moisture s not far down in the subsoil when he alfalfa is planted, the roots will lot go down. Where the roots do not ;o down. |