Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 240, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1911 — WEED ENEMIES OF ALFALFA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WEED ENEMIES OF ALFALFA

Over a considerable portion of th 6 Country weeds constitute the worst •enemy of alfalfa. This is especially true in the humid and In those parts of the West and Southwest where the bulk of the rainfall comes during the comparatively mild winters. Witch-grass or couch-grass in New York and the New England States,’ crab-grass in the Eastern Stales south of New York, bluegrass In the blnegrass sections, and the “foxtail" or wild millets and crabgrass In the Central States are the worst enemies in the respective sections from the standpoint of the al- : faifa plant.

In the irrigated sections of the West, especially In those sections characterized by rainfall during the comparatively mild winters, the growth of the wild barleys is a decided drawback to the successful production of alfalfa. They mature shortly before the first cutting of alfalfa, and the boards of the grass heads somtlmes ruin the first crop of hay, which is sometimes burned to destroy the gras seed. These wild barleys are also known as foxtail grass, squirrel-tail grass, and wall barley, - Since alfalfa Is not usually a cleancultivated crop the problem of weed destruction is as' ious one. Disking is usually the most effective remedy for weeds as the alfalfa is generally benefltte** by the ->peration, while the weeds are greatly injured, owing to their different root systems. In sections where the wild barleys are troublesome it is sometimes thought necessary to bu the first crop of hay. Another method is to c\jt the first crop while the wild barley is still immature and toed the mixture o. alfalfa and grass 1 ay. The objection to this method is hat It necessitates the cutting of U alfalfa when too young. A heavy growth of crabgrass is sometimes burned in the early spring. Dodder is one of the worst weeds so far as alfalfa is concerned. Tin. dodder seeds germinate in the-ground and the young plants soon attacL themselves to the alfalfa seedlings. As soon as the threadlike stem is firmly attached to r he alfalfa plant the stem connecting it with the ground withers .yway. Thenceforth the dodder lives entirely on the alfalfa. It is very diff.cult to eradicate .vhen once establishod, and tor this reason great care shcild be taken to avoid introducing it with the alfalfa seed at seeding time. Grazing close with sheep has been recommended as being effective in holding dodder in check. If dodder appears in Isolated spots through the field, it is advisable to cut the affected alfalfa plants very low and remove them. Destroying the dodder by burning with different materials has occasionally proved successful, but It is apt to be more expensive than the removal of the affected portions of the plants. If the stand of alfalfa is badly affected with dodder, the attalfa should be plowed up before the dodder goes to seed and the land kept in cultivated crops for two or more years.

Mature dodder plant on an alfalfa stem.