Pkoceedings of Seventeenth InTormal Institute 2.35 



too valuable a crop to attempt to grow before supplying the con- 

 ditions under which alfalfa thrives. Manifestly there are a few 

 conditions under which alfalfa will never thrive — on thin rock- 

 land soil subject to drouth, wet soil where adequate drainage 

 cannot be supplied, and deep sandy soils very deficient in organic 

 matter. Some soils on high elevations with hardpan subsoils, 

 may never be made suitable for alfalfa growing. 



Knowing, however, that alfalfa thrives best when certain con- 

 ditions are satisfactoTy it would be poor policy to attempt to 

 grow the crop successfully before supplying these conditions. 



Always insure the alfalfa crop with : 



1. Proper drainage to remove excess water. No economic! 

 plant thrives under conditions of excess water. 



2. Supply available fertility, if lacking, with farm manures or 

 adequate applications of fertilizers. 



3. An abundance of carbonate of lime is m.ost vital. Apply 

 one to two tons per acre even on soils that contain some lime 

 carbonates. 



4. Inoculate the soil or the seed, or both, with either (a) soil 

 from fields where alfalfa has been growing successfully, or (b) 

 with bacterial cultures. 



5. For New York State seed secured from northern states is 

 preferable to that from the Middle West. Northern grown seed 

 is desirable. 



6. The time and method of seeding is also most important. 

 There is a growing tendency to sow alfalfa seed not later than 

 the middle of July, and in some parts of the state earlier seedings 

 are more satisfactory than late seedings. 



Thus, by supplying the conditions under which alfalfa thrives, 

 and following the practices advocated by our most successful 

 alfalfa growers, many fanners will learn that alfalfa growing 

 has a much wider range than is now supposed. 



