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Show PREPARE LAND FOR ALFALFA Early Cultivation HKould Begin as Soon In Spring as Ground Can bs Worked. Good preparation of the land Is Important. Im-portant. The soli should be quite firm and should have a mulch of Ioohm soli an Inch and a half or two Inches deep over the surface. Fall plowing will Insure sufficient packing or the soli and In the spring the surface sur-face can be worked up Into a good seed bed. This early cultivation should begin aa soon In spring as the ground can be worked and be continued con-tinued to conserve moisture until danger of heavy freeslng la over, when seeding may be done, says the Denver Meld and Farm. There should be suf flclent moisture In the soil to germinate germi-nate the seed and keep it growing until un-til It Is eight to ten Inches high when water may be applied If needed. With spring plowing It Is difficult to get a seed bed firm enough and one that will retain moisture well enough for best results. The soil will be too louse and will dry out quickly. It la therefore advisable when the land la plowed In the spring to Irrigate before be-fore seeding provided the soil does not contain an abundance of moisture. For best reaulta the aeedlng ahould be done tolerably early In aprlng. The particular time will depend upon the altitude and the local climatic conditions. con-ditions. A few degrees of frost will do no serious Injury but heavy frost Is likely to kill alfalfa when Just out of the ground. If the seed bed Is In perfect per-fect condition and a drill be used, eight to twelve pounda of first grade aeed the acre should be sufficient for a good ataiid. When soil condltloni are unfavorable or broadcasting li practiced from II to 18 pounda mny be required. On Irrigated land It l Detter to have a thick than a thin stand. The use of a seeder that sows In drllla and covera the seed Is to b recommended aa the swdi are cover ed and each seed Is given an equal chance for germination with every other. A drill with preas wheels at Im bed Is also desirable. The seeds should be sown shallow froai one half to two inches deep. |
