32 



rapidly. Under these conditions, it is estimated from 

 reports thus far received that in considerably more 

 than half the experiments the stand of alfalfa was ruin- 

 ed. These reports afford an jjnteresting comparison of 

 the relative hardiness towards cold of the young plants 

 of alfalfa, crimson clover and hairy vetch. The first 

 two, when vei'y young, are almost equally sensitive to 

 cold, while haiiy vetch is much hardier in this respect 

 than either. 



Alfalfa has been successfully sown in Alabama, both 

 in the early fall and in the early sprihg. The principal 

 advantages of fall sowing are the following: 



(1.) A larger yield of hny obtainable the first sum- 

 mer ; 



(2.) Less danger of having the alfalfa overtaken 

 and crowded out by crab grass and weeds; 



(3.) Use of teams in preparation for alfalfa in Aug- 

 ust and September, when they would not be employed 

 iii preparing for the usual crops. 



The chief advantages of spring sowing are as follows : 



(1.) Freedom from risk of winter killing, to which 

 fall sown alfalfa, especially that sown late, is liable. 



(2.) Opportunity to sow alfalfa after cotton, the 

 best of the hoed crops to precede it ; 



(3.) Usual better condition of the land for plowing 

 in December and January than in August and Septem- 

 ber. 



Each reader must contract these opposibg advantages 

 in the light of his own conditions. By far the larger 

 proportion of alfalfa sown in Alabama on prairie soils 

 is put in after Christmas, which suggests that this is 



