EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 307 



7. On many soils tbrougbout the state lime does not seem to be 

 needed but on otbers it is quite essential to tbe successful growing of 

 alfalfa. It is well to apply lime on a portion of tbe field wben seeding 

 alfalfa for tbe first time, especially if difficulty bas been experienced 

 in growing clover, or if tbere is any otber indication of an acid soil. 



8. Tbe presence of nitrogen fixing bacteria is of utmost importance in 

 tbe growing of alfalfa. Botb tbe soil and pure culture mctbods of 

 inoculation bave given good results and one or botb sbould always be 

 used wbenever alfalfa is being seeded for tbe first time in a field. 



9. Tbe exact date of seeding is not of so mucli importance as the 

 preparation of a good seed bed and several otber factors. Late spring 

 or early summer is a favorable time on tbe medium or bcavy types of 

 soils, and early or middle spring is a good time on tbe ligbter types of 

 soils. 



10. Tbe use of a nurse crop is not advisable except on fields tbat 

 are apt to blow or wasb and on seed beds tbat are poorly prepared and 

 are ai)t to become very weedy. 



11. If a drill is used judiciously tbis metbod of seeding is prefer- 

 able to broadcasting and barrowing in but care should be exercised 

 to see tbat the seed is covered to tbe proper depth. 



12. Tbe rate of seeding within certain limits is not an important fac- 

 tor in the seeding of alfalfa. A very light seeding is satisfactory under 

 ideal conditions. Ten or twelve pounds per acre sbould ordinarily be 

 as good as more and is a safe amount for general recommendation. 



13. There are no commercial varieties of alfalfa in the sense tbat we 

 bave varieties of corn, wheat, etc. For general use we must depend 

 mainly upon the American grown seed of the common or the blue 

 flowered alfalfa, though the Grimm and other selections of tbe varie- 

 gated alfalfa are very desirable for planting under Michigan conditions. 

 Northern grown seed should be purchased in preference to that grown 

 in tbe central and southern states. 



14. New seedings of alfalfa sbould be clipped often enough to bold 

 the weeds in check but not usually more than two or three times during 

 the first season. 



1.0. The harrowing of alfalfa during the first two or three years after 

 seeding is not advisable. Old stands tbat are thin and weedy are 

 frequently improved by this treatment. 



10. The alfalfa leaf spot is a more or less common disease of alfalfa 

 but is not usually considered serious. Fields that are badly affected 

 sbould be mowu, when if tbe weather conditions are favorable the al- 

 falfa will usually make its normal growth. 



17. Much care should be exercised in the purchase of seed to avoid the 

 introduction of noxious weed seeds on the farm. If dodder is introduced 

 it should be thoroughly eradicated before it goes to seed even at tbe 

 expense of destroying the stand of alfalfa. 



18. The better methods of making alfalfa hay are quite different from 

 those commonly practiced in the curing of mixed hay and sbould be 



given considerable study on tbe part of the inexperienced alfalfa grower. 



19. Alfalfa bay is considered generally to be of very high feeding 

 value. Of those growers making a comparison with clover hay 92.7 

 per cent consider it better than clover. 



20. Alfalfa is not well suited to stand close cropping and the tramp- 



