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J. STECKLER SEED CO., LTD., ALMANAC AND 



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A Good Three-Year-old Field of Southern Alfalfa. 



adapted for use with Bermuda Grass, and 

 the combination of the two makes a splen- 

 did all-the-year-round pasturage. It is 

 also well adapted for use in regular pas- 

 turages, and will give a considerable in- 

 crease in the quantity of pasturage just at 

 a time when it is most appreciated. The 

 plant matures its seed early in the 

 spring, and produces seed abundantly after 

 the first year, and no reseedirig is neces- 

 sary unless the clover has been pastured 

 «o closely as to prevent it from maturing 

 seed. When sown on Bermuda Grass sod, 

 the sod must be scarified to give the clover 

 a chance to get its roots in the soil below 

 the layer of Bermuda roots. This scarify- 

 ing is also beneficial to the Bermuda 

 Grass. Sow at the rate of 20 pounds per 

 acre. 



AI.FAI.FA OB IiUCEBin:.— (Medlcag-o 



Sativa.) — Alfalfa is a deep rooting peren- 

 nial plant, sending up enormous small 

 clover like shoots. The flowers are violet 

 purple, and instead of being in dense heads, 

 as in red clover, are in erect racemes. The 

 seeds are in spirally coiled pods and abun- 

 dantly produced. The roots will penetrate 

 to a great depth and are known to have 

 gone 10 and 12 feet deep in 3 years growth. 

 It has been recorded as sending its roots 

 to a depth of over 50 feet. Its great root- 

 ing accounts for its long life and rapid 

 growth, as it consumes food, moisture and 

 the leach of fertilizers from depths entire- 

 ly beyond the action of the drouth or heat, 

 which have been for years beyond the reach 

 of ordinary plants. Where, 50 years ago, 

 sage-brush was the only sign of vegetation, 

 now fields of green alfalfa are raising the 

 crops of hay to feed sheep, hogs, horses 

 and cattle that are, every winter, fattened 

 to supply the market. It will grow any- 

 where, from sea level to 7,500 feet eleva- 

 tion, provided the water does not stand 

 close to the surface of the ground. It 

 grows best in a rich sandy loam, underlaid 



by a loose and permeable subsoil. It is a 

 heavy feeder on lime, potash and phos- 

 phoric acid, but most essentially on lime, 

 which is so common in this country, and 

 which produces its rapid growth. Alfalfa 

 will thrive well in any kind of soil except 

 where it is wet; it is a forage plant for dry 

 lands and it is known to have yielded one 

 and two crops a year, in places, where 

 other crops have failed entirely. Though 

 it will do best in a rich sandy loam, it 

 stands drought better than any other cul- 

 tivated grass. Alfalfa is grown more or 

 less in every State or territory in the 

 Union, from the Atlantic to the Pacific 

 coast; in Canada in the North and in 

 Mexico in the South. 



Its use as a forage plant is getting more 

 and more every year. It is hardy and 

 stands our winter better than any other 

 kind of clover. The seed should be sown 

 about one inch deep. The seed does best 

 planted here in Louisiana in late fall, dur- 

 ing September, October or November, 

 while it is planted almost the year round. 

 The way to plant it to be successful is as 

 follows: The ground should be thoroughly 

 plowed, leaving no weeds. Plow first one 

 way and then crossways, making thorough 

 drainage, allow no water to remain on the 

 seed beds or meadow, nor around them. To 

 be successful it should be planted three 

 consecutive years. The first year, work as 

 above with 30 pounds of seed broadcast. 

 The second year, about the same time, 20 

 pounds of the seed, without disturbing the 

 ground. The third year, about the same 

 time, 15 pounds of seed, without disturbing 

 the ground; but simply broadcasting the 

 seed by hand in the gaps, for no matter 

 how careful you are in sowing the seed 

 you will have gaps. Then you will have a 

 meadow forever. 



All farm animals are very fond of Al- 

 falfa, green or dry, and it is calculated that 

 one acre will, during the growing season 

 from May till October add 150 pounds of 



All of Our Fruit Trees are Adapted to this Climate. 



