EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 329 



great care however, not to bury the seed deeper than two inches. It is 

 difficult to shut the ordinary drill down close enough so that alfalfa 

 seed alone will not feed out too fast. If this method cannot be used, 

 we suggest, (2) scatter seed broadcast and then disc, using moderate 

 cut only and follow with harrow. These methods, particularly (1) puts 

 the seed down in the soil evenly and provides greater certainty of 

 moisture for germination that when sown in the ordinary way. There 

 is no doubt but that many of the failures in seeding sandy lands are 

 due largely to lack of suitable covering for the seed iij soils which dry 

 out quickly. 



Nurse Crops. — 



As a general rule the young alfalfa plants will succeed much better 

 without a nurse crop. If a nurse crop is used, not more than one- 

 half to two-thirds the, ordinary seeding should be applied. Broadcast the 

 alfalfa ahead of grain drill and then harrow, except in the case of clay 

 soils when the alfalfa may be sown after the grain drill. 



Clipping. — 



If weeds are troublesome, clip high with the mower as often as it is 

 necessary to prevent them from crowding and shading the alfalfa plants 

 and robbing the soil of its moisture. Allow clippings to remain as 

 mulch unless too heavy or, in case weeds have gone to seed they should 

 be removed and burned. 



Inoculation. — 



Where alfalfa has not heretofore been grown, the soil may need 

 inoculation to develop the production of root nodules, the bacteria of 

 which are claimed to utilize atmospheric nitrogen. If inoculation is 

 desired we recommend the farmer to secure a few sacks of soil from an 

 old alfalfa field and scatter over the soil to be seeded. If the inoculated 

 soil has to be shipped long distances at great expense try from 300 

 to 400 lbs, per acre; it may be better to use much more however, pro- 

 viding it can be secured near by at little cost. Get soil from fields as 

 free from weeds as possible. 



Longevity of Alfalfa. — 



In the west there are authentic records of alfalfa stands continuing 

 for ten to twenty years. It is not at all likely that this crop will prove 

 to be as long lived under Michigan conditions. As the stand becomes 

 thinner from various causes, it is crowded more and more by June grass. 



Pasturing Alfalfa. — 



Great care should be exercised under Michigan conditions relative to 

 pasturing alfalfa. In no case should it be pastured too close by any 

 kind of stock nor trampled excessively so as to injure the crowns of the 

 plants. 



R. S. SHAW, 



Director. 



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