1900 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
THE CUL TUHE OF ALFALFA 
On the Eastern Farm. 
We have had many calls for advice 
about growing Alfalfa on eastern farms. 
This plant is naturally best suited to cli¬ 
mate and soil found west of the Missis¬ 
sippi, but it is no less valuable when it 
can be well started in the East. For the 
benefit of readers, we reprint the following 
circular by Prof. E. B. Voorhees, of the 
New Jersey Experiment Station: 
Soil asp Feeding.— Alfalfa grows 
well on varying kinds of soil, providing 
the subsoil is open and porous; the most 
favorable is a rich, somewhat sandy 
loam, warm and friable, with a deep 
and loose or gravelly subsoil, well sup¬ 
plied with lime. A dense clay or hard- 
pan subsoil is most unfavorable. Al¬ 
though a rich soil is preferable, Alfalfa 
sometimes does well on poor well- 
drained gravelly land. While the plant 
requires much water, it will not flourish 
where the ground is saturated or 
• flooded. It is especially desirable that 
the soil be supplied with an abundance 
of lime. The plant is a heavy feeder, 
and will not thrive on soils deficient in 
plant food. The fertilizers applied 
should contain mainly potash and phos¬ 
phoric acid, and while Alfalfa is a le¬ 
guminous plant capable of obtaining at¬ 
mospheric nitrogen, it responds quickly 
lu applications of nitrogenous manures. 
These should be spread broadcast and 
harrowed in thoroughly. The following 
applications per acre are recommended: 
First year before seeding, 35 bushels 
stone lime, 150 pounds acid phosphate, 
100 pounds muriate of potash, 75 pounds 
nitrate of soda; after seeding, 10 tons 
manure. The lime may be applied the 
Fall previous to seeding, and well har¬ 
rowed into the soil; the fertilizers 
should be applied just previous to seed¬ 
ing, and well worked into the surface 
soil. The manure should be applied late 
in the Fall, after cutting has ceased; it 
should be fine, and evenly spread, and 
will prove serviceable both in protecting 
the plants and in furnishing food that 
will be well distributed throughout the 
soil by the Fall and Winter rains. Sec¬ 
ond and succeeding years, 10 tons man¬ 
ure, 150 pounds acid phosphate, 100 
pounds muriate of potash. The fertil¬ 
izers may be broadcast, either in Spring 
or Fall, and manure applied as recom¬ 
mend.- h 1 for first year. 
Prepabation. —The treatment of the 
field for the season preceding should be 
such as most effectually to subdue all 
weeds, and cause the sprouting and de¬ 
struction of any seed in the ground, 
hence, farmyard manure should not be 
used for at least one year before sowing, 
as it favors the growth of weeds. The 
sou should receive careful and thorough 
preparation—this is very important—in 
order tc secure a full stand. If the sub¬ 
soil is hard and compact, the subsoil 
plow should be used. 
Seed and Treatment. —Pure seed is 
essential; only that which is bright and 
plump should be used. The seed re¬ 
sembles that of Red clover, but is larger 
and, when fresh, has a greenish-yellow 
color. Experience has demonstrated 
that, in order to secure a good stand, it 
is best to sow 30 to 35 pounds of seed 
per acre. The seed should be sown 
broadcast the last of April, or the first 
of May, without any protective crop; it 
should be covered with a very light har¬ 
row or a weeder, and lightly rolled. 
The growth of weeds should be checked 
early, and as soon as the weeds are 
large enough to be clipped by slightly 
raising the cutter-bar, the mowing ma¬ 
chine should be used. If the clipping is 
not too heavy, it can be left on the field 
and will serve as a mulch during the dry 
weather. This destruction of weeds in 
the early growth is very important, be¬ 
sides, frequent cutting is helpful in es¬ 
tablishing the young plants. On rich 
soils, two crops are sometimes secured 
the first Summer, but on poor soils or in 
a dry season, no crop can be expected 
133 
until the second year. Alfalfa should 
be cut every time it begins to blossom, 
whether the growth is short or tall, un¬ 
less a seed crop is desired; if left until 
tully blossomed, the quality of the pro¬ 
duct is reduced, besides, the plants are 
injured, and subsequent crops are 
smaller The chief value of Alfalfa is 
as a green forage or soiling crop. After 
the field is well established, three or 
four cuttings are usually secured in a 
season. It is not a safe pasture for cat- 
tie and sheep, for it is likely to cause 
bloat. When animals are given all they 
will eat, the fodder should be allowed 
to wilt before it is fed. Alfalfa hay is 
a palatable and very nutritious fodder; 
much time and care, however, are neces¬ 
sary in curing it. 
The yield on established fields will 
vary according to the character of soil, 
thickness of stand and method of treat¬ 
ment, and will range from 10 to 20 tons 
or more per acre of green foliage or an 
equivalent in dry hay of from two to five 
tons. The larger yield is readily ob¬ 
tained on good soils. Alfalfa is a heavy 
feeder and a large producer and is some¬ 
times considered as an exhaustive crop. 
This is a mistaken idea; it should 
rather be looked upon as a crop fulfill¬ 
ing the proper aim of rational agricul¬ 
ture, which is to transform into pro¬ 
duce the raw materials at our disposal 
in the atmosphere and soil. 
Stables and Handling Manure. 
Our way with manure is to haul it to 
the fields every two or three weeks. If 
we get over one field we begin on 
another. As we put in a sod field with 
corn each year, and the next Spring 
plant it with corn again, and a patch of 
potatoes, we can find use for a pretty 
large quantity of manure—more, usual¬ 
ly, than we can make. We supplement 
with some form of commercial fertilizer. 
Our land is not very hilly, but where 
there is much grade to a field we ma¬ 
nure the higher portion first, leaving the 
lowest part till near plowing, to save 
the washings. 
Our horned — or dishorned — stock 
stand on board platforms laid on 
concrete, with a five or six-foot walk 
behind them, cemented as solid as mar¬ 
ble. This walk is level for three or four 
feet on the outer side from the platform, 
curving to it so as to form a gutter to 
catch the droppings. So solid and 
smooth is this bottom that a sturdy 
fellow pushes the manure along it to 
the door, and then pitches it to a pile. 
Of course the pile is under shelter, for 
we have lots of shedding—1,800 square 
feet. Outside of that the yard is flag¬ 
ged level and tight as a wall. There 
is but a minimum of liquid manure, as 
the litter we use absorbs about all of 
it. We have pursued the foregoing sys¬ 
tem for many years, and have seen none 
that seems better, but when we do will 
most likely change. If I were building 
a new barn, I think I would have ma¬ 
nure pile under dairy and feeding stock, 
but hope I may never have to build. I 
have a suitable location for such a barn, 
which not every farmer has. The rea¬ 
son why we do not haul out manure as 
often as H. W. C. does, is that we try 
to take advantage of suitable weather, 
times when the ground is solid enough 
not to damage our driveways; for of all 
things I dislike about a residence, or 
anywhere else, a cut-up road is about 
the worst. reader. 
Milk Poisons. —Clotted cream, a 
favorite delicacy in England, is often 
ordered for delicate children in place of 
cod-liver oil. It is now found that pro¬ 
vision dealers are using boracic acid 
freely to improve the keeping qualities 
of the cream. In one case investigated 
a half-pound jar of the cream contained 
16 grains of boracic acid, the maximum 
dose for an adult when taken medicin¬ 
ally. Of course, doctors disagree de¬ 
cidedly as to the unwholesomeness of 
boracic acid, some asserting that it is 
harmless, others that it is irritating 
to the digestive tract, and the source of 
skin eruptions. The general opinion is 
voiced, however, by an English medical 
journal which observes that the prac¬ 
tice of drugging the public promiscu¬ 
ously and without their knowledge, by 
incompetent people, is dangerous, and 
should be prohibited altogether. If peo¬ 
ple wish to experiment with boracic 
and salicylic acid, let them do so at 
their own discretion, but let us feel as¬ 
sured that our dairy products are guilt- 
lrss of dubious preservatives. 
B0WSHER MILLS 
(Sold with or wlthoat Elevator.) 
For Every Variety of Work. 
Have conical shaped grinderu.Different 
from all others. Handiest to operate and 
LIGHTEST RUNNING. 
Have them in T sizes—2 to 26 horse 
power. One style for windwheel use. 
(Also make Sweep feed Grinders.) 
P. N. BOWSHER CO., South Bend, lod. 
NEW FEED GRINDER 
Ball Bearings. 
Pei feet in Construction. 
Easy Running. 
Grinds Fast and Fine. 
Description and price upon application 
THE SUNDRIES MFG. CO., South Bend, Ind. 
BURR-STONE FEED MILLS 
We oiler you the bout mill on the market 
at Bach a low figure that it will pay you to 
write us. Our mills hare been on the mar* 
ket 50 years. They are the best 
constructed, least compli- 
ated and fastest grinding 
yet produced. Hills 
sent on approval. Price* 
cover freight. Send for Illus¬ 
trated catalogue. Address, 
LKOHAUD D. HABKI80N, ‘ 
Ht, New Ua vcd. Conn. 1 
Cider Maohlnery.—Send for oatalogue to Boomer A 
Boschert Press Co., 118 West Water St., Syracuse,N.Y 
CHARTER GASOLINE ENGINE 
Any Place 
By Any One 
For Any Purpose 
Stationarlee, Portable*. 
Engines and Pump*. 
State your Power Needs. 
Charter Gas Engine Co., Box 26, Sterling, III 
A Good Planter 
should plant all kinds of field seeds. 
Field, Ensilage and Sweet Corn, Pens, l)cnnn. 
Sugar Beets, Stock Beets, etc. 
It should plant In hills, drills or checks at the will 
of the operator. It should at the same time drop or 
drill all kinds of commercial fertilizers, wet, dry 
or lumpy, pulverized hen manure and other 
home made fertilizers, evenly in any quantity 
per acre. 
EASILY 
ADJUSTED. 
EASY TO 
HANDLE. 
Weighs 150 lbs. 
THE ECLIPSE 
CORN PIANTER AND 
FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER 
does all this In the most perfect maimer. Drops 
seed from 0 to 45 Inches apart. Will distribute from 
50 to 450 lbs. of fertilizer per acre. They are strong¬ 
ly built of good material and will last Indefinitely. 
Write for free catalogue, circulars, &c. 
THE BELCHER 6l TAYLOR A. T. CO., 
Box 75, Chicopee Falls, Mass. 
rv^„’4 BROADCAST OATS 
UOIT l SOW OATS WILD 
It Is just as profitable to drill oats as wheat. 
Do it with the SUPERIOR. It Don’t Choko. 
Never Clogs in Trash 
SOW OATS WITH A 
SUPERIOR DISC DRILL 
and Save Seed (at least half bushel per acre). 
Save Time. Save Labor. Once through 
the field with the SUPERIOR Disc Drill and 
the crop is in. You don't have to follow with a 
harrow. With the SUPERIOR you can sow in 
standing corn stalks and cover all the seed. 
SUPERIOR DISC DRILLS NEVER CLOC. 
Made in all sizes—8 to to 22 disc. 
If your dealer does not handle the 
SUPERIOR write to us for “Spring 
Sowing” SPECIAL PRICE. 
Your request on a postal card will bring you 
a Catalogue. It tells all about them. 
THE SUPERIOR DRILL CO., 
Box P Springfield, Ohio. 
RUMELY 
ENGINES 
—either traction, portable or semi-portable 
represent the greatest value that can bo crowded 
Into a machine ot this kind. Simplo nr compound 8 to 20h.p. 
Unequalled for threshing, well drilling, saw mills, feed 
grinders,&c.Make also superior threshers, horse pow¬ 
ers, saw mills,etc. Illustrated catalog mailed free. 
/W. Rumely Co.,LaPorte,Ind. 
Uftll DRILLING 
WELL Machines 
Ovw 70 sixes and styles, for drilling either deep er 
■hallow wells In any kind of soil or rock. Mounted 
on wheels or on sills. With engines or horse powers. 
Strong, simple and durable. Any mechanic caa 
operate them easily. Send for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaca, N. T. 
DON'T BE 
A ROBBER! 
Husband the fertility of your farm 
and every time you plant seed 
you will yet a paying crop. 
Strange how a man will take crop after crop off the farm, putting nothing back, and then expect 
to be prosperous. If you handled the manure you have on the farm properly, results 
would be different and you should not need to be be buying commercial fertilizer. 
The KEMP MANURE SPREADER 
Will Double mnd Treble the Value ot the Manure Heap. 
It spreads all kinds of fine and coarse manure evenly; makes no “skips;” does not dump a great 
load in one spot, but covers the entire ground evenly. Tears up coarse and lumpy manure and 
makes it fine. Better than anybody can do it by hand. Spreads lime, wood ashes, salt, etc., equally 
well. With the drill attachment it puts the manure direct into the open drill. Made in three con¬ 
venient sizes. Ask the opinion of anybody that uses one. Write for Illustrated catalogue. 
Kemp Sc Burpee Ufp. OoBox 38, Syracuse, S. Y, 
$18.50 
for this leu in h ar iu'kh, 
cut from select oak-tanned 
leather, trace* 6 ft loot;, iji 
in. wide, with cockeyes ;18 ft 
lines; Hook & Territ pads, 
polestrap V/> in jcollar strap 
ljtfin KIk Bartfiiin All 
kinds Kindle & d’bl. harness. 
$ 10 . 
Buys a 14 in. steel beam 
plow. Our No. 38 steel 
plow, steel or wooden 
beam, guaranteed to 
scour in any soil. Finest 
plow made. Shipped 
on trial; if not found 
satisfactory return it, 
we will pay all freight. 
Friers low because our 
material was bought be¬ 
fore tile advance. 
$11.90 
for 
Cultiva¬ 
tor. Our 
Wolver¬ 
ine Cultivator Is the most 
expensive made, yet out 
priced the low eat because 
material was bought before the 
advance. Don’t pay two 
priced, but send for our cata¬ 
logue. A Ridlui; Culti¬ 
vator for $17.50. 
Don’t buy an experiment— 
our Hue Im unequalled 
$24.75 
to 32.50 
Calumet Cheek Row 
Corn Planter It never 
misses; drops in hills and drills. 
We challenge the world with 
this planter—most perfect one 
made Will ship iton trial in 
competition with all others. 
Don’t buy a back number. We 
have 95 styles of Planters and 
Drills for Held and garden. 
Buys this Steel Beam 
Cultivator, plain, with 5 
shovels, spreads to 33 in 
WiTSeiid tor our FREE 852-Pttire Spring: Agricultural Catalogue. 
for steel lever harrow; 
cuts 10 ft; 00teeth. 2sec¬ 
tions ;also 3 ic 4 sections 
at Y) retail prices. 
No. 76, 
$18.25 
12-18 
_, BEARINC 
All Steel Disc Harrow, with 
or without center disc. Discs 
16 and 20 in. 8fdzes. Our im¬ 
proved 1*2-16 disc, with ‘2, 
3 or 4 h. evener, $18.25, 
$ 1.00 
Bow .. 
Seeder v I 
trunk .j- 
Seeder, 9 1.1 ^ 
bows Grain an 1 ! 
Grass Seed. 
V ; '‘ Price Reduced 
$3.20 
for this Hay- 
Car r 1 e r. 7 
styles for steel, 
wood and cable. Every 
thing in hay toois. 
Priced very low. 1 
MARVIN SMITH CO., 55-57-59 N. Jefferson St., S- 16, Chlci O. 
