FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 677 



In obtaining seed deal with a reliable or reputable seed company. 

 Oftentimes alfalfa seed is adulterated and contains objectionable weed 

 seeds. As with any other crop, the best is generally the cheapest and it 

 should be purchased only subject to inspection or where the purity and 

 germination are known to be good. Arrangements to secure seed should 

 be made at once. Delay may result in late seeding and possibly the loss 

 of a crop. 



•Alfalfa seed is usually sown at the rate of 20 pounds per acre. It 

 may be drilled or broadcasted. Drilling is by far the best way of 

 planting the seed since it means the more even distribution. However, 

 if the seed is sown broadcast, it is well to cross the field twice, sowing 

 half the amount in each direction. If there is plenty of moisture pres- 

 ent the seed should not be covered to exceed half an inch. . However, 

 if there is not enough moisture present at this depth the seed should 

 be covered deeper. If the seed is broadcasted the harrow will cover it 

 deep enough. 



The time to seed alfalfa will vary in different sections of the state. 

 The experience of many growers in northern Iowa would indicate that 

 alfalfa should not be sown later than the first week in August. For 

 southern Iowa, the time may be extended ten days or two weeks. Later 

 seedings usually do not obtain sufficient growth before frost to withstand 

 the winter. There is no objection to sowing the seed earlier than the 

 date mentioned, but to sow later is simply to take the chance of the 

 possibility of a late season. Very frequently at this season of the year 

 there is a lack of moisture. If the ground has been summer fallowed it 

 should contain sufficient moisture to insure germination at any time and 

 hence the advantage of this method. 



Many soils of Iowa no doubt would be benefited by inoculation. In 

 most of the fields so far examined there has been no evidence of the 

 bacteria on the roots of the plant, and in most of these cases the bacteria 

 have never been applied. In other cases, where the fields have been 

 inoculated no doubt the bacteria were destroyed by the acidity of the 

 soil. It must not be understood, however, that all fields need inocula- 

 tion. But the essential thing to remember is that alfalfa will not succeed 

 where its particular kind of bacteria are not found, and that these must 

 either be naturally present in the soil or artificially applied. On some 

 land inoculation may not be necessary, but w^hy should we assume this 

 risk when inoculation is so easily and cheaply accomplished. Alfalfa 

 never has been grown by chance or guesswork. Inoculation is the 

 cheap and safe way. 



There are two methods of soil inoculation — one by the use of natural 

 soil; the other, of artificial cultures. Soil can be obtained from a near- 

 by alfalfa field where the plants have an abundance of tubercles on their 

 roots. Three hundred pounds of soil to the acre evenly distributed will 

 serve the purpose. Since the bacteria of alfalfa and sweet clover are 

 similar, soil from the latter may be used. It can be applied by hand or 

 with the seeder and should be sown preferably during the evening and 

 harrowed in imniediately, the object being to protect the bacteria from the 

 direct rays of the sun which tend to destroy all bacterial life. 



