308 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ing of stock but still is a most valuable pasture for hogs and under 

 certain conditions and treatments for other classes of stock. 



21. Little alfalfa seed has vet been produced in Michigan but there 

 is promise that a seed industry of considerable imi)ortnnce may be de- 

 veloped in the state on account of the adaptability of many of our soils 

 to alfalfa seed production. 



22. Alfalfa should be seeded on practically every farm, all or a por- 

 tion of which is well drained, throughout the agricultural sections of 

 the state. Its special places in Michigan agriculture are, seeded alone 

 as a hay crop, seeded alone as a pasture for hogs, and as a perennial 

 legume for mixing with clovers and grasses for both hay and i)asture. 



23. It is not advisable to seed a large acreage of alfalfa at the 

 first attempt. A small acreage should be seeded under as favorable con- 

 ditions as possible and this increased after some experience has been 

 gained in growing this crop. 



24. The profit from the entire fann will l)e increased if alfalfa is re- 

 seeded in a new field every four to six years as compared with leaving 

 the same field seeded for any definite period. The best plan for a ro- 

 tation of crops including alfalfa is the short'rotation of the annual crops 

 inside the long or complete rotation. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



Mr, A. R. Potts, Field Agent of the department, having visited 

 hundreds of alfalfa fields throughout the state during the past three 

 seasons, has given valuable assistance in the study of local conditions 

 and the gathering of data for this bulletin. Mr. F. A. Spragg and Mr. 

 R. G. Hoopingarner have assisted in the preparation of a portion of 

 the tabular data. Several of the Station staff have given valuable assist- 

 ance in the revision of the manuscript. All of which is gratefully ac- 

 knowledged by the author. 



