No. 7 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 431 



Today, alfalfa growing can be made quite as easy as the growing 

 of red clover or any other ordinary farm crop, provided all the con- 

 ditions that have been found necessary are fully complied with, and 

 provided, of course, weather conditions are as favorable as those that 

 obtain when other crops are successful. While we have grown large 

 crops in the most iiortlun'n countyof the state, whei'e the strong soils 

 exist, we have grown it with equal satisfaction upon the light, sandy 

 soils of Southern New Jersey. In fact, with the liberal use of lime 

 and mineral fertilizers, the light, sandy land section of South Jersey 

 is bound to be a great alfalfa producer — already fields of 25 acres 

 and more are found there. As an example, I cite but one case: 



At Hammonton, in Atlantic Co., five acres of light, sandy land, 

 seeded on the 5th of September, 1905, upon which only a small por- 

 tion of manure was used, but which was liberally fertilized with 

 ground bone and potash, and limed at the rate of 1 ton per acre, cut in 

 the season of 1906, 31 tons of dried hay per acre. Numerous instances 

 could be given of the successful growing of this crop on a wide variety 

 of soils in this State. These various, although favorable conditions 

 exist in Pennsylvania, New York and in all of the Eastern States, 

 insufficient proportion to enable farmers to grow this crop success- 

 fully and to provide them with practically all the protein that they 

 are now buying in concentrated and in mixed feeds, many of which 

 are of doubtful value, while at the same time contributing largely 

 to the growth of other crops. 



It \will only be a question of time before alfalfa is quite as much 

 of a farm crop, if not more so, than any now grown for forage pur 

 poses, provided the farmer will make himself familiar with the facts, 

 and be convinced and then be courageous enough to carry out his 

 convictions. 



At this point, it may be well to discuss a few of the essential factors 

 necessarily growing alfalfa hay. 



Selection of Soil. 



As already pointed out, most naturally well drained soils seem to 

 be suitable for alfalfa, provided their physical condition is good — 

 that is. the soils thnt are not too open and porous, on the one hand, 

 which would permit the too rapid movement of water and plant-food. 

 ofr too dense and compact on tlie other, Avhich does not permit the 

 ready movement of water and plant-food, and the ready penetration 

 of the roots. 



The subsoil, of course, must be similar in character to that of the 

 surface — that is, not too dense or compact, or too open and porous, 

 although even on soils overlying a rather tight clay, gravelly or shale 

 subsoil, the alfalfa roots seem to be able to penetrate readily and ob- 

 tain the necessary moisture and plant-food. Soils well adapted for 

 potatoes are naturally well adapted for alfalfa, and I think, gen- 

 ei-alh' sixMildu'!'. soils that <rrow corn well will in'ow alfalfa, pro- 

 vided the plant-food is sup])lied in abundance. Undrained soils, or 

 those even reasonably dry on the surface, but where the permanent 

 water-level is not more than 2 feet below the top, are not suitable. 



Preparation of Soil. 



Soils in all cases should be well prepared— that is, the plowing 

 should be deep and then deeply and thoroughly cultivated, and the 

 particles on the surface made as fine as in preparing a garden, and 



