242 Bulletin 237. 



Screened soil from an old alfalfa field where tubercular growdi was 

 abundant upon the alfalfa roots was sown upon the plats indicated at 

 the rate of 500 lbs. per acre. 



A fertilizer mixture containing four per cent nitrogen, 12 per cent 

 phosphoric acid and four per cent potash was applied to the five plats 

 indicated at the rate of 500 lbs. per acre. 



Seed that had been treated with alfalfa cultures grown from stock 

 received from Professor H. A. Harding of tlie State Experiment Station 

 at Geneva, was sown on plats 1503 and 15 16. On all other plats un- 

 treated seed was sown. The ra'.e of seeding was 25 lbs. per acre and 

 the date of sowing was May 25. 



The stand secured on this series of plats was very good and while 

 some weeds appeared, fortunately the manure used did not seed the plats 

 to wdiich it was applied to clover as occurred the previous year. \^ery 

 heavy rains occurred in June which were unfavorable for the crop, but 

 did not produce disaster. 



The Summer Study of the ipoj Seeding 



During the summer numerous observations were made upon these 

 plats. Probably those made July 28-29, and October 30, will sufficiently 

 show the progress of the experiment. 



On July 28-29, ^^ ^^^^ of four square feet from the 2-lime section 

 and the no-lime section of average thickness and growth was taken from 

 each plat. The alfalfa plants on each of these areas were counted and 

 divided into three lots according to size. The grass and other weed 

 plants were also counted and put in bunches. The plants from each plat 

 were then placed against a screen marked ofif into six-inch squares and 

 photographed, those frcm the limed area on the right, those from the not 

 limed area on the left. Figures 91 to 93 show the relative growth made 

 on some of the various plats at this c^ate. The notes made at the same 

 dates, showing number of plants of each kind, help to a correct under- 

 standing of the results. 



The notes of October 30 give the appearance of the plats just before 

 the green alfalfa was frozen down. 



The plats were last clipped July 29 and the estimate of vigor of the 

 plants is based on the growth they have made since that date and October 

 30. Nodules are found on all sections of all the plats. It is difficult to 

 estimate their relative abundance as they seem to be losing their vitality 

 and arc so easily detached from the roots and the soil is so adhesive that 

 not finding nodules on a plant is not satisfactory evidence that none were 

 there. Nodules do not seem to be very abundant anywhere but can be 

 found on all sections if diligent search is made. 



