Show WAYS OF SEEDING ALFALFA there seems seem to bo be general standing tandl ng regarding seeding of crop in the th west during the winter we made a nura br cpr ot of inquiries regarding the seeding needing a ot alfalfa on irrigated land under out our immediate conditions there seems to be a general misunderstanding regarding the seeding of this crop some of 0 the eastern farni fann journals for instance hist anoe bave stated it to la a waste of see seed to try to grow this crop on soil boll of a sandy nature another paper advised its readers not to seed beed on heavy oil loll A large number of farmers read eastern it stern farm journals and as a result ire re often misled by such statements gays bays a writer in the denver nanch and range the above may lie he true and no doubt la Is true under these particular conditions but it does not hold for our western states the idea of seeding alfalfa very early in the spring Is not so gen general e ral as it was 11 several everal years ago this if 1 more mora especially true edthe in the windy sections of the west when high winds prevail there la is a tendency to either blow out the seed or whip off the young plants its also have we to contend with the drying winds that take the moisture from the surface of 0 the soil very rapidly do not work the soil too deeply shallow plowing it the soil has to be ba plowed Is preferable get the soil lu in shape either the fore part of june or the last of july prepare a good but solid seed bed have the soil good and moist before seeding put the seed in with a drill at the rate of IS 15 pounds to the acre where the soil Is inclined to blow several methods have been practiced one of these is to seed the alfalfa into the small grain stubble the tha end of july this can be done very nicely after fall grain as this comes oft off of the ground around early in the season another good method Is to seed rye about the first ot of july and when this has reached the height of about three inches aches drill in the alfalfa seed after a thorough inquiry we found that in the larger percentage of cases letter stands were secured on jat aate seeding of alfalfa likewise have we found that the deep loose soil Is not conducive to a good stand in the average seasons we do not recommend the careless and shiftless preparation of the soil but believe in a good that has a solid firm bed in which the alfalfa seed Is placed not long ago we took part in a conversation in which several grain growers remarked thai tha this year we have to begin early and force the grain fro mAhe start we art are afraid that a number of 0 farmers will make this mistake abnot do not be afraid of the late season the snow and moisture we have had has hai put the ground in nice shape and when once the grain Is deeded will make a rapid growth Op observation and experience have taught us that too much water Is a detriment and will fie decrease crease the crop BS as much as a shortage of water will decrease it during the seaon beason watch the soil eoll find and do not let the moisture get down too low at any time during the growing season but it if we can stay slay oft off the R application of water until the grain begins to shoot then we are almost sure of a good big yield irrigating the grain too young has the same effect on it as aa too much rain would have lip ip the eastern states |