EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 279 



gravel subsoil, have given very good results. It is believed that these 

 soils are well suited to the growing of alfalfa largely because of the 

 good drainage to a sufficient depth to allow the deep root system of the 

 alfalfa to develop. The sand soil with either a sand or gravel subsoil 

 have given the poorest results, probably because of their relatively low 

 state of fertility and their poor water holding capacity. Tt will be 

 noticed that alfalfa is being grown successfully on all the types of soils 

 and that on most of the types a fair percentage of the seedings have 

 been successful. 



In choosing a field of the farm for the growing of alfalfa, it is im- 

 portant to avoid poorly drained soil or that in which the water table 

 lies within three or four feet of the surface. Likewise soils underlaid 

 with rock or other impervious strata within a short distance of the 

 surface should be avoided. However, most of the so-called hard pans 

 of Michigan are not too hard for the alfalfa roots to penetrate when 

 there is plenty of moisture in the soil. Muck soils and heavy inpervious 

 clays are poorly suited to the growing of alfalfa. 



Other things being equal the fertile soils are preferable to the in- 

 fertile ones. In sections of the state where the lighter soil types prevail, 

 the seeding of alfalfa is quite commonly a failure because of the un- 

 productiveness of the soil. Wliile the alfalfa after it is well established 

 in the soil is a very hardy plant, it is very tender and very slow to develop 

 in its early growth. Alfalfa is a very valuable crop on these lighter 

 types of soil if a good stand can be secured and the alfalfa can be made 

 to survive the first one or two seasons, but it is not advisable to sow 

 alfalfa on many of these soils until some means are taken to improve 

 them. Not only is the plant food lacking but there is very little organic 

 matter and only a very limited water holding capacity. The best way 

 to build up a soil of this type is to grow rye, vetch or other crops for 

 plowing under. 



In the better agricultural sections of the state it is frequently ad- 

 visable to seed the alfalfa on the higher, lighter lands of the farm, be- 

 cause this land is well drained, because the alfalfa will do very well on 

 land of this type and because this plan will leave the best land of the 

 farm to be devoted to other crops. 



So far as previous cropping is concerned, alfalfa may follow any 

 crop of the farm providing a sufficient length of time is taken to prepare 

 a suitable seed bed. It is not, however, advisable to break up sod, 

 especially a June grass sod and seed alfalfa, since the sod is not apt 

 to be sufficiently decomposed or the grass completely eradicated before 

 seeding alfalfa. A cultivated crop, such as potatoes, corn, or beans in 

 which thorough cultivation has been practiced is well suited to precede 

 alfalfa. Alfalfa may also follow any of the small grain crops but it is 

 not usually advisable to attempt to seed the alfalfa the same season, 

 as the grain crop generally leaves the field in a rather dry condition so 

 that it would be difficult to prepare a good seed bed sufficiently early. 



PREPARATION OF THE SEED BED FOR ALFALFA. 



In Table IV is given a summary of the reports based on the firmness 

 of the seed bed, this condition being judged by the answers to this ques- 

 tion and also those on the methods and length of time used in preparing 



