Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 199, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1913 — IMPORTANCE OF INOCULATION OF ALFALFA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IMPORTANCE OF INOCULATION OF ALFALFA

(By J. M. WESTGATE.) Throughout the western half of the United States the soil appears to be naturally supplied with the proper bacteria for the formation of the root tubercles. In the eastern part of the country, however, where the soil conditions are less favorable to the growth Of these bacteria, it is nearly always necessary to supply them at the time of seeding. This inoculation may be supplied either by scattering soil from a successful alfalfa field or in the form of artificial cultures. Although possessed of some disadvantages, inoculation by means of soil from a successful alfalfa field will nearly, always produce the desired results. It is essential that care be taken to avoid the introduction of seeds of noxious weeds or harmful plant diseases. The bulkiness of the 800 to 800 pounds of soil necessary for an acre makes it advisable to secure the soil from a field as near by as possible. It has been found that soil from around the roots of the sweet clover is quite as effective as alfalfa soil. In most sections of the country this plant may be found growing wild in scattered clumps. In the south, where burr clover occurs, soil from around its roots may be used with good results. The, soil may be mixed with the seed and sown with IL It may also be drilled or broadcasted separately. If broadcasted, the soil should be scattered on a cloudy day or toward evening and immediately harrowed in, as sunshine is harmful to the germs. If the soil has to be freighted considerable distances, it is usually advisable to 'use but ‘2OO or 300 pounds of soil per acre, but this should be mixed with several times its weight of ordinary soil to facilitate even scattering. If the soil is difficult to secure, it may

First Crop of Alfalfa, 1910. Farm of Mr. Fred 8. Wlnsor, North Providence, R. I. No. 1. Ground Magnesian Llmestone. No. 2. Ground Limestone. Ail Fertilized and inoculated Alike. be best to seed a very small area the first season, taking special precautions to have it thoroughly inoculated. This will then furnish an abundance of soil for inoculating a larger area the following season. It cannot be urged too strongly that inoculation is absolutely essential to the ' successful production of alfalfa. There are very few soils outside the alfalfa districts that do not require inoculation, and it may be taken as a general rule that all other soils must have the inoculation supplied inorder to grow alfalfa successfully. A few soils, however, especially those upon which sweet clover grows naturally, seem able to produce successful stands without artificial inoculation. These however, are the exception rather than the rule. The advantages of artificial cultures lie in the greater ease of transportation and application as well as in the absence of the danger of introducing plant diseases or harmful weeds. Inoculation produced by the cultures, in case it is successful, seems to be in every way as efficient as when the soil method is used. Fewer failures are reported in the case of the soil-trans-fer method, however. It has been found that successes are more apt to follow inoculation with pure cultures if the seed 1s sown immediately after the seed has been dried after having been Inoculated. There Is some evidence accumulating to Indicate that the germs In the pure cultures when they do survive are superior to those normally found in the alfalfa soil. It is suggested therefore. that both the soil-transfer method and the artificial cultures be used. If seeded tn the late summer or early autumn, alfalfa will require no treatment that autumn unless a growth of more than 12 inches is made before cold weather. If this occurs, the plants should be clipped back so that they will go into the winter with 8 orylO inches of growth. In this condition they will be best able to withstand the winter and will be in excellent shape to renew their growth the following spring. The first cutting of hay should be secured In the . late spring. If, on the other hand, the seed has been sown In the late tall or in the spring, but little more than a clipping can be secured Id the late spring ot summer. This clipping should be

made preferably when the basal shoots start and should be made 3 or 4 inches high, as the plants will be slow in recovering if cut too low. It may be necessary to cut at some other time than the ideal time indicated, as, for instance, yrhen the weeds threaten to choke out the young plants, when the. blossoms appear, or wfien the plants begin to turn ydllow. Except: in the latter case the clippings are usually left on the ground as amulch. If zthe plants have turned yellow owing to some disease, the clippings should be raked up and removed. A top dressing of nitrate of soda will sometimes invigorate the diseased plants. The same statements govern subsequent cuttings the first summer, except that the growth is usually too heavy to be left on the field. Ordinarily no treatment is required during the second season, except to cut the hay when the plants pre about one-tenth in bloom, or, better, when the new crown or basal shoots are starting. It Is important to get the hay off the field as soon as possible. In order to allow the new growth to commence uniformly over the field. If the windrows or cocks are allowed to remain too long on the ground, the alfalfa plants will be smothered out and then bare spaces will form the centers from which weeds wllljspread. No pasturing should be allowed during the first or second seasons, as the crowns have not become sufficiently well developed to withstand the effect of trampling. About threefourths of a full crop may be expected the next season after late summer seeding in the humid-regions. Nearly a full crop is usual the second season after spring seeding if the weeds of the first summer have not seriously Injured the stand. As long as an alfalfa field shows a perfect stand, with no tendency to run to weeds, it is not customary to give the field any special treatment. If the weeds begin to prove troublesome, it is advisable to disc the alfalfa after cutting. This process loosens up the soil hnd aerates iL which is decidedly advantageous to the alfalfa. The taproots of the alfalfa plants are not usually injured by this practice if the discs are set nearly straight, while the weeds are to a great extent destroyed. A spike-toothed harrow may follow the disk to level the ground.

Alfalfa Field of Mr. George S. Baker, Providence, R. I. Inoculated.