Suggestions for Obtaining a Stand of Alfalfa 725 



winterkilling. It probably is not worth while to try to grow 

 alfalfa on hardpan land. 



Young alfalfa plants are weak, and they are rather slow grow- 

 ers. It seems necessary to have the soil in quite fertile condition 

 in order to get a good stand of healthy, vigorous plants. If the 

 soil is not physically well adapted to alfalfa, it becomes even 

 more important that it be in a highly fertile condition. Under 

 such circumstances a liberal dressing of manure while preparing 

 the land seems necessary. If stable manure is not available, a 

 green crop may be plowed under and mineral fertilizers added. 



Alfalfa, like nearly all legumes, requires much lime for its 

 proper nutrition. The soil must also be alkaline in order that 

 nitrogen-gathering bacteria may thrive in it. It therefore 

 becomes imperative that, to grow alfalfa successfully, a soil must 

 be abundantly supplied with lime. So important is lime in 

 alfalfa growing and so general is the lack of it in New York soils, 

 that no one should omit its use in fitting land for alfalfa, unless 

 experience with the particular soil has distinctly shown that it is 

 not needed. 



SEED 



A prime factor in successful alfalfa growing is good seed. The 

 seed should be at least 99 per cent pure, and should not contain 

 any pernicious weed seed, especially dodder. The New York law 

 requires dealers offering seed containing 3 per cent of foreign 

 seed to brand it, giving the percentage of such foreign seed; but, 

 unfortunately, the law does not require them to state the kind and 

 amount of pernicious seeds present. The buyer should require 

 a guarantee from the dealer that no dodder is present or else sub- 

 mit a sample of the seed to the State Experiment Station at 

 Geneva for examination. Not only should the seed be pure, but 

 it should be alive. Dead alfalfa seed is of no more value than 

 inert matter. A germination test should be made unless the seed 

 is brought from a reliable dealer under a guarantee. 



Not only should the seed be good, but it should be adapted to 

 the locality. This statement applies especially to the borders of 

 the alfalfa-growing regions and to those places where difficulty is 

 experienced with the crop. Until recently alfalfa seed was alfalfa 

 seed, and that was all there was to say. Now hardy varieties 



