82 



with bacteria and the need of inoculation is not very great. If a 

 field of alfalfa does not do well after a few weeks or better a 

 few months' growth, carefully dig up a few plants and wash 

 away the soil. The absence of nodules on the rootlest is a sure 

 indication to the need of inoculation. (Since the nodules are 

 easily knocked oiT the roots, extreme care should be used in re- 

 moving the plant and in washin<2,' the soil from it.) 



3. Kind and Quantity of Seed and Method of Planting. With 

 all other conditions supplied, there still remains the matter of 

 good pure seed. This should be plump, of strong germination, 

 and free from weed seeds. Much of the commercial seed sold in 

 bulk contains dodder and other weed seeds which are difficult to 

 separate from the alfalfa seed. If possible, seed should be secured 

 from a source known to be free from dodder or carefully re- 

 cleaned seed should be used. While it is somewhat difficult to 

 separate the large seeded dodder from ordinary alfalfa seed it can 

 be done by using a screen made of 20 x 20 mesh, No. 34 steel or 

 iron wire on the W. & M. gauge ; or, the same mesh of brass or 

 copper wire, Xo. 32, English gauge. This should be stretched 

 over a light wood frame about 12 inches square. A half pint of 

 seed should be placed in the sieve at a time and thoroughly sifted 

 until all dodder seed is removed. This will require a half minute 

 vigorous shaking, and the results will well repay the trouble." 

 This one feature should not be slighted, for "Trouble with weeds 

 has caused more alfalfa failures than any other one thing. "^ It 

 is said that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," 

 but in the case of alfalfa it is not only worth a ton of cure, but 

 is the deciding point between success and failure. 

 (To be continued.) 



' Hawaii Sta! Bui. 23. 

 * Tndian.'i Sta. Cir. 27. 



