ALFALFA GRASS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 160, 8 July 1874, Page 2

ALFALFA GRASS.

Mention was lately nude of the receipt of samples of alfalfa grass from California, and of their distribution, for the purpose of experimenting as to how thegraes was suited for the soil and climate of this colony. In a Southern paper there appears an article describing the experience of aMr Jennett, in the growth and use of this particular grass, acd from that description wo quote tbe following hints, which may be serviceable to farmers who have procured samples, and to others who may be desirous of making experiments. Mr Jennett says : — In May we cut and sold the crop on twenty acres for 1000 dols, not weighed, but estimated at seventy-five tons loose hay, hauling it about oue mile afterwards; mowed it once, then pastured it till February so closely that the field looked like a dust bed, and tbe kaowing ones said we had killed it out. Notwithstanding all this, ft came out this last spring in such a condition as to satisfy anyoue that it cannot be grazed close enough to injure it. We had a piece of two acrea that 1500 sheep camped on for three weeks, until not a vestige of the alfalfa could be seen, and that came out this la3t spring as well as any. Covering the Seed.— l was satisfied that rolling in the seed, also brushing it in, on our land would not do. Sinca then 1 have harrowed it in, and find that we get a belter stand, and it takes a third less seed. If the ground is moist when the seed is sown, or if there is a good rain soon after sowing, brushing in would do. Some prefer to sow the alfalfa alone without grain. It does well either way, I prefer to sow half a sowing of barley with the alfalfa, as it protects it from ths sun, and yields more the first cutting than if sown alone. Effect of In Ration.— By irrigating before cutting, the alfalfa will not dry out nor will, while the cropis being removed. I think a great many of the failures attributed to frost are caused by the seed being^ so- near the surface that it dries out before the root reaches moisture.; \ >. . Alfalfa for Sheep.— We turn our lambs in August and September, after weanTrig, "changing from one field to another as fast as eaten out. There, is generally double. Jhe. loss ..among, lambs after weaning, until new feed starts, than among all the balance of the flo<ks. By putting them into alfalfa, this loss is saved, and -the lambs make much larger sheep, and. have a greater growth of wool than tliey would have if kept in the -usnal. manner; Forty acres is a very good-sized field. In hot weather, sheep could graze it down every ten days with advantage. The feed should not be allowed to get over ten inches high before grazing it — if higher, it is trampled down and tbe growth is retarded; the shorter it is, the better the sheep like it. We kept 3000 lambs during tbe months of September and October on 125 acres of alfalfa; also kept 1000 on eight acres eight days, and it was not fed close. Since then we have grazed on the 125 acres 1400 sheep and 20 horses. It is estimated in the Eastern States, where they feed nearly six months in the year, that twenty-five tons of hay will keep the sheep during the winter of six months, or twenty months when sot_e grain is fed. On that basis 3600 sheep can be kept six months on the hay from 150 acres, by cutting three times, providing it yielded two tons at a cutting, and leave the grazing, after the 15th of August, until the 15th of February, for 2000 sheep more. Natural pasturage can be had in most parts of the State, six: months in the year, during the time of cutting the alfalfa bay. In preparing land for alfalfa seed it is very essential that it should be iu the I best of order, and, when it has to bs irrigated, should be level, or nearly so, thus saving much time and trouble in irrigation. After ploughing and harrowing the ground thoroughly, we use a leveller of the following kind: — We take a plank ten feet long, three inches thick, one foot wide, and nail or screw a, sawplate oh the lower edge in front, to keep it from wearing. Then bore a hole hear the centre of the plank, at each end, to pass a chain through to hitch to. On the back side we have two more holes, three feet -part, a

.little above the centre, to drive io f ta-eslour feet long. On these stakes, n^ar the plank, we nail a board for the driver to ait on. This leveller will handle more dirt than halrVa-dozen scrapers, and bag ithe advantage over the scraper cf turning oyer and unlocking itself as soon as the driver jumps off tt. The slakes at tho back keep this plank in the right position, inclining backwards slightly. The time is .'soon coming when every stockman will see the necessity of having his field of alfalfa for wintering use.