502 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



When it is desirable to put a stubble field in shape for alfalfa, it should 

 be plowed early, or if this cannot be done, it should be disked at once. A 

 disked field should be plowed later without much troule, while the disking 

 foul seeds are made to germinate. 



When the seeding is done soon after the plowing, the proper seed-bed 

 may only be made by disking and harrowing or even the use of a sub-sur- 

 face packer. When such is the case, disking before plowing is essential, 

 because a seed-bed is then prepared which is turned under by plowing. 

 Under such treatment a six-inch bed will be assured, while with a single 

 plowing the bottom of the soil will "he loose, cloddy, filled wath trash and 

 not connected with the soil below the plow line. A firm connection with 

 the sub-soil is preferred, so as to permit the capillary rise of water, a 

 mellow covering aerates the soil, and takes up heat, so that rapid germina- 

 tion and growth results. 



Great care should be taken in disking in the spring, so that ridges are 

 not thrown up. These must be harrowed down and the surface made per- 

 fectly level, otherwise the stand will not be uniform. In disking an ad- 

 vantage may "be gained by lapping half, so that the uneven soil is thrown 

 back again, then by harrowing the uneven surface is smoothed down. The 

 planker can be well utilized both before and after planting to leave the 

 surface compact with still a loose covering of soil. 



When a sod is deficient in available plant food and where the organic 

 matter has been worked out, an application of manure is beneficial. This 

 induces a vigorous growth while the plants are young and tender, so that 

 they become more hardy. Alfalfa is a deep feeder, it is classed as a soil 

 restorer, and while it gathers nitrogen from the air, it feeds heavily on 

 the phosphorous and potassium in the soil. Plant food supplied to growing 

 alfalfa will give quick returns and profit to the grower. Worn out soils 

 should be first improved physically by incorporating manure and organic 

 matter in the soil; however it should not be seeded to alfalfa until this 

 material is w-ell rotted. 



PUEE SEED. 



A prime requisite of the alfalfa grower should be that he demand good 

 seed. It is not only necessary that it be strong, possessing vigorous germs, 

 but it should be clean and free from foul weeds. Many a well prepared 

 seed bed has been seeded to poor, foul seed, and after the failure the grower 

 has given up the growing of alfalfa for all time; a failure at this time 

 spells failure, quite likely to him, for all time. Nothing discourages the 

 grower more than such a result, and an unsuccessful trial may indirectly 

 inflence his neighbor. 



Good alfalfa seed possessing high germinating power has a bright golden 

 color and when rubed between the thumb and fingers appears glossy. The 

 experienced farmer can readily distinguish the poor seed by its rather 

 brownish color and shrunken appearance. Some years olive green seeds 

 are mixed in with good seed; this is caused by uneven ripening of the 

 crop; however, such seed is good. The Turkestan variety has somewhat 

 of a dull color even when well cared for. The grower should demand good 

 seed, especially clean seed, for several very noxious weeds may be intro- 



