328 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Cultivation. — 



In all cases the land should be continuously and thoroughly cultivated 

 to free it from all vegetable growth before seeding. Weeds are about 

 the most troublesome factor in securing a stand unless entirely destroyed 

 before the alfalfa is planted. Soils of the clay and loam class should be 

 plowed and cultivated deep and thoroughly. The light, sandy or gravelly 

 soils should not be plowed, cultivated or loosened up deep shortly before 

 the seeding time; for these soils it is desirable to secure a compact, 

 firm seed bed. 



Manuring. — 



No manuring may be necessary in the case of the deep, rich, well 

 tilled loam, but a light top dressing of fine well rotted manure goes 

 far to insure a stand <^f alfalfa on clays, sands and gravel soils. It is 

 desirable on the clay, not so much to furnish plant food as to prevent 

 the ground from drying out, baking and cracking. On the sand and 

 gravel, the top dressing is needed to prevent the sand from drifting, 

 to furnish food for the young plant, to shade the ground and conserve 

 moisture, and, on steep hillsides, to aid in checking washing. Farmyard 

 manure plowed under deep, while very valuable later, does not furnish 

 aid at the time or in the manner heretofore suggested. The top dress- 

 ing is particularly essential in seeding barren hill tops, washy slopes 

 and light sands. The manure should be applied after plowing so that 

 the subsequent cultivation, necessary to produce a suitable seed bed, will 

 intermix it with one or two inches of the surface soil, rather than leave 

 it entirely on the surface except in the case of a blow sand. The manm^e 

 should be fine and well rotted so as not to interfere with cultivation or 

 spread weed seeds; the amount needed will vary from six to twelve 

 loads per acre, depending on soil, season, climatic and various other 

 conditions. The manure can be applied and distribute'd most perfectly 

 by means of the spreader. 



Time' of Seeding. — ■ 



This will vary with the locality and the season, but may begin as 

 soon as danger of severe frost is past, say about May 1st, and may 

 continue as late as there is prospect of getting a vigorous growth to 

 withstand winter; this will also depend on the season and the use of 

 a top dressing of manure. Last .season we seeded successfully up to 

 August 1st. 



■te* 



Amount of Seed. — 



From 15 to 20 pounds of seed is needed per acre, depending on the 

 suitability of the soil, the season, quality of seed, etc. 



Methods of Seeding. — 



On well prepai'ed loam and clay soils broadcast seeding followed by 

 very light discing or harrowing, or both, as the conditions may de- 

 mand, is all that is necessary. On the lighter, sandy soils however, 

 which will drift or dry out quickly, the seed should be imbedded at a 

 greater depth; this can be accomplished in two ways, viz.: (1) Mix 

 the alfalfa seed with about twice its bulk of dry, sifted soil, fine saw- 

 dust or corn meal and sow with the ordinary grain drill, exercising 



