iqSo 



The Cornell Reading Courses 



much of the foliage as possible. The succeeding growth is usually un- 

 injured by the disease. 



experlment to determine what a given soil requires for growing 



ALFALFA 



Every farmer who plans to grow alfalfa extensively at some future 

 time may determine for himself the needs of his soil by a very simple 

 experiment. In fact, it would not be advisable to undertake alfalfa culture 

 extensively in a region where it had not been cultivated previously, with- 

 out first experimenting. The plan of the experiment is as follows: 



Lay off a plat of land eight rods long and four rods wide and divide it 

 into eight square plats of one-fortieth acre each, as shown in the plan, 

 setting stakes at the comer of each plat. Great care should be taken 

 to see that the soil is uniform in quality. 



Apply 56 pounds of quicklime or 100 pounds of ground limestone to 

 each of plats i , 2 , 5 , and 6 ; a liberal dressing of barnyard manure to each 

 of plats 2, 3, 6, and 7; 20 pounds of fresh soil from an old alfalfa field 

 or sweet clover patch to each of plats i, 2, 3, and 4. No treatment 

 should be given plat 8. 



This experiment furnishes all possible combinations of lime, manure, and 

 inoculation, with a check plat of untreated soil. Particular care should 

 be exercised in choosing ground free from weeds and in putting it in good 

 tilth before sowing. The land should be plowed from four to eight weeks 

 before seeding and the lime applied at that time. The inoculation should 

 be done at sowing time. 



