January 1, 1910 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
27 
Lucerne for Soil 
Improvement. 
Alfalfa (lucerne) is just as important 
as an improver of the soil as it is asa hay 
If the farmers of Idaho realised 
this and managed their crops accordingly 
they would be vastly more prosperous, 
The difficulty is not that there is not 
enough alfalfa grown, bat that the farmers 
are loth to plough it up and introduce 
8ome rotation. We find that our soils 
are very well supplied with the mineral 
crop, 
elements essential to plant growth, but 
are deficient in humas and _ nitrogen. 
Fortunate it is that these constituents 
which are Jacking can easily be added by 
Srowing alfala. Such crops as small 
grain, potatoes, aud sugar beets add 
Scarcely any nitrogen; but, on the other 
hand, draw upon that contained in the 
Soil. Grain stubble and such portions of 
those crops as become incorporated into 
the soil supply humas. Since alfalfa is 
Our chief leguminous crop and can supply 
the nitrogen which ordinary crops do not 
add to tho soil, its great value for soil 
improvement may be appreciated. Nitro- 
Sen is found in abundance in the air, but 
Ordinary crops cannot take it up and 
Utilise it in its gaseous form, The so- 
called nitrozen-fixing bacteria which are 
found in the nodules on alfalfa roots take 
Up atmospheric nitrogen and elaborate it 
into nitrogenous compounds (protein) 
Which are assimilated and stored up in 
the leaves and stems of the alfalfa plant: 
It is this protein which makes alfalfa 
Such a valuable forage. The root growth 
Of the plant and the decay and reneway 
of tubercles on the roots enriches the soil 
with nitrogen. Leaves dropping off also 
add some. By ploughing under a crop of 
alfalfa a still greater amount of nitrogen 
is added to the soil, In these various 
ways alfalfa enriches the soil. 
of University of Idaho 
—Report 
Experiment Station. 
Cover for Lucerne Hay. 
When the farmer considers that a ton 
of well cured alfalfa (lucerne) hay is 
worth about as much as a ton of wheat 
bran, he ought to see that it is profitable 
ty protect it from the rain and dew. He 
would not hesitate to provide ample cover- 
ing if he had several tons of bran in the 
field exposed to the elements. Hay-caps 
will soon pay for themselves by the finer 
quality of the hay they assure, aside from 
the larger quantity cf the best grade that 
their protection guarantees. 
The barn is the best place for alfalfa if 
all conditions are right. Cases of spon- 
taneous combustion in stack and mow 
male farmers fearful of using the barn, 
especially for the first cutting, which 18 
always most difficult to cure. There are 
certain conditions that must be observed 
if this hay is to complete its curing pro- 
perly and safely in the mow. The bottom 
of the mow should be elevated at least a 
foot from the ground, floored with poles 
or joists, und they should be about two 
‘thirds covered with bvards or other 
material in such a way as to provide 
numerous openings or air spaces of con- 
siderable size. If the mow already has a 
tight floor, a part of the flooring should 
be removed before the hay is put in. 
Then a box or barrel should be placed in 
the centre of the space and lifted up as 
the filling proceeds. If the mow is over 
thirty feet long, a second barrel should be 
used; that is, an air shaft should be left 
in about every fifteen to twenty feet, 
A layer of dry hay or straw sandwiched 
in about every four or five feet, as the 
mow fills, can be used to much advan 
tage, If the mow is large enough in 
length and width, an excellent, safe plan 
is to spread the first cutting over the 
entire bottom, filling up to a height o 
four or five feet. The second cutting 
may be placed over this, on top of a layer 
of straw, and the third cutting over this. 
There is virtually no danger from spon- 
taneous combustion or from mould if this 
is doue, and the hay will be as bright and 
green and almost as rich in protein in 
January as when harvested. 
— From Coburn’s ‘ The Book of Alfalfa,’ 
New Method of Killing Weeds 
The problem of weed eradication is one 
of the most serious which confronts the 
farmer. During the last few years a 
method of killing weeds has been dis- 
oovered which promises greatly to lighten 
the annual toll which the farmer pays to 
these pests. This new method consists 
in spraying the weeds with certain des- 
tructive materials known as herbicides, 
Some of these herbicides. of which iron 
sulphate is the most promising, will kill 
nearly all kinds of common weeds without 
injuring the oats, wheat, or other crop in 
which they happen to be growing. In 
fact, in several cases the sprayed grain 
was thriftier and yielded more than that 
which did not receive the treatment. 
This method is especially valuable for 
destroying mustard in grain fields and 
dandelions and other weed on lawns. 
Bickford’s © 
Arsenate »: Lead | 
An infallible insecticide for all leaf- 
eating insects, including Codlin Moth, 
Potaty Bung, Curculio Beetle, Apple | 
Xvot Borer, ete. 
Does not burn the foliage 
Gives rise to no poisonous dust 
No danger to the sprayer 
Adheres firmly to the leaves 
Mixes with water in any proportion 
One pound of Paste makes 30° gallons 
of Spray. 
No Lime Required. 
