18 FORAGE CROPS FOR THE SAND-HILL SECTION OF NEBRASKA. 



SAND LUCERN. 



Sand lucern is a liardv, drought-resistant strain which originated 

 from a cross between ordinary alfalfa and the yellow-flowered 

 species, Med'icago falcata. It -is adapted to a wider range of soil 

 types than ordinary alfalfa and is proving equal or superior to many 

 of the strains now being grown for drought and cold resistance.^ 



GRIMM ALFALFA. 



Grinnn alfalfa - is a local strain developi'd in Minnesota, which 

 on account of its superior hardiness is well adapted to localities where 

 trjung conditions are to be met.^ 



LOCATING THE FIELD. 



The best soil obtainable should be chosen for the alfalfa field. 

 Excej^t in the wet-A-alley region, the best location will invariably be 

 in the bottom of the valley, where the soil contains the most humus 

 and the moisture supply is the most constant. In the wet valleys 

 the prospective alfalfa field should be located where the water table 

 will be at least 4 feet under the surface of the ground. There have 

 been successful fields where the distance to water was less in wet 

 seasons, but the chances are very much against such a field. A well- 

 drained piece of land with the water 8 to 12 feet beneath the surface 

 is best. Too much water is as ruinous to alfalfa as too little. 



TIME OF SEEDING. 



Numerous tests of alfalfa have been conducted in this region. The 

 results of these tests demonstrate quite thoroughly that the best time 

 for seedino- is about the middle of June. There are several reasons 

 for this: (1) The winds, which are likely to be quite frequent and 

 rather destructive through March, April, and the early part of ]May, 

 usually cease by the first of June. (2) It gives the weed seeds which 

 may have remained in the ground from the year before a chance to 

 germinate and be destroyed by cultivation before the alfalfa is sown. 

 (3) The ground is warm, the rains are more abundant at this time, 

 and the alfalfa has time to make a good growth before frost, so that 

 it can withstand the winter. With all these points of advantage, 

 however, judgment will have to be exercised in seeding, as this date 

 might happen to be just the wrong time to seed. If no rains have 

 fallen for some time and the surface soil is dry to a depth of 3 or 4 

 inches, it is best to retain the seed until it does rain or, in case the 



1 Westgate, J. M. Varii'gated Alfalfa. lUilletin 100. lUn-eaii of Plant Industry. I'. 8. 

 Dept. of At'i-icultiuv, 1910. 



= I'.rand, Charles J. Grimm Alfalfa and Its I'tilization in Iho Xortlnvosl. lUilldin I'OH. 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculturo. P.iU. 



3 Brand, C. J., and Waldron, L. R. Cold Resistance of Alfalfa and Some Factors Influ- 

 encing It. Bulletin IS."). Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1910. 



[Cir. 80] 



