26 FORAGE CROPS IN NEBRASKA. 



COOPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS WITH ALFALFA. 



Press Bulletin No. 16 of the Nebraska Experiment Station, entitled 

 "Alfalfa Experiences," gives the following summary of results 

 obtained b}^ growers of alfalfa in that State: 



During the winter of 1902 a list of between 600 and 700 successful alfalfa raisers in 

 this State was collected, and to each was sent a report blank calling for a definite 

 statement regarding a number of the processes he employed in obtaining his stand 

 of alfalfa, and also regarding his subsequent care of the crop. More than 500 satis- 

 factory replies were received, representing 80 counties in the State. A study of this 

 large number of reports from successful alfalfa raisers gives some valuable informa- 

 tion respecting alfalfa culture. 



There were 288 stands reported upon upland, and 273 upon bottom land. Even 

 in the western portion of the State the amount of alfalfa on the upland is shown to 

 be considerable, and very satisfactory results are evidently obtained, although 

 naturally the yields of hay are smaller than on the bottom lands of that region. In 

 the eastern part of the State somewhat heavier yields appear to be obtained from 

 bottom land, but loss from winter killing or other cause is greater. Twenty-three 

 reports state that upland is more satisfactory than bottom land. These come princi- 

 pally from the eastern portion of the State or the irrigated land of the western 

 portion. 



An astonishing feature of the replies is the large amount of alfalfa that they show 

 to be growing on land with a clay subsoil. Sandy clay, clay loam, clay and lime, 

 etc. , were not counted as clay. In spite of this limitation, 245 clay or gumbo sub- 

 soils are reported. A clay or even a gumbo subsoil does not appear to be a barrier 

 to successful alfalfa culture. 



The seed bed was prepared by plowing and further working in 373 cases, and by 

 disking or cultivating in 75. Among the latter is one method that appears to be 

 popular and satisfactory. This consists in thoroughly disking corn land after all 

 trash has been removed from the field. In the western part of the State there are a 

 number of good stands of alfalfa obtained by breaking prairie sod, disking it, and 

 harrowing in the seed. Also by disking the unbroken sod and harrowing in the 

 seed. The latter commends itself as an easy way of supplementing the native grasses 

 in pastures. The tendency to dispense with plowing on unirrigated land increases 

 with the distance westward from the Missouri. 



A study of the dates of sowing alfalfa seed in the spring shows a range from early 

 March to late June, although where advice was volunteered it was practically unani- 

 mous in favor of early sowing. There were only 8 reports of summer or fall sowing, 

 of which 1 was sown in July, 4 in August, and 3 in September. 



In 108 cases a nurse crop was used, while in 393 cases the alfalfa seed was sown with- 

 out that of any other crop. The use of the nurse crop was largely confined to extreme 

 eastern Nebraska and the irrigated land of the West. Many persons wdio used a 

 nurse crop say that they would not do so again. It has been recommended to use 

 a light seeding of small grain, sown earlier or with the alfalfa, to prevent damage by 

 severe winds. When sown in this way the nurse crop is mowifwhen 8 or 10 inches 

 high, to prevent it smothering the alfalfa. 



In 55 cases the seed was put in with a drill, and in 447 cases it was sown broad- 

 cast. This is at least an indication that if a drill is not available a satisfactory stand 

 can be obtained by broadcasting and harrowing in, provided the other conditions are 

 favorable. 



There were 138 reports of less than 20 pounds of seed per acre being used, and 336 

 reports of 20 pounds or more being sown. The evidence seems to be in favor of the 

 use of at least 20 pounds of seed per acre. 



