TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 519 



True It is that the best of farmers and those who strive most intelli- 

 gently sometimes fail to secure a stand or from some other cause fail 

 to grow a successful crop. This, however, does not signify that alfalfa 

 will not grow on that particular farm. The same may be said of all 

 varieties of grains and grasses. Older farmers, even in Iowa, can remem- 

 ber well in their experience certain years when corn while being culti- 

 vated the first time was killed with frost, and who has not known of corn 

 failing to mature in the fall? Yet, none of us claim that corn will not 

 grow in the corn belt. We have the proof that it will in that it is seen 

 growing everywhere. So that with faith in our convictions we plant 

 year after year and trust to our ability and knowledge as farmers and 

 to the favors of nature to be enabled to harvest a crop in the fall. 



With alfalfa growing by the thousands of acres throughout the corn 

 belt and with no section that has not some thoughtful, studious, per- 

 sistent man growing a field, large or small, we have the same proof that 

 it will grow. 



Therefore, whenever the farmers of the corn belt know as much about 

 raising alfalfa as they now know about raising corn and with deter- 

 mination will apply the proper principles with the same manner of con- 

 fidence and persistency alfalfa will be found easier to raise, a more certain 

 crop and a greater source of value than any other legume, unless it be 

 sweet clover. 



This does not mean that those who have not heretofore raised alfalfa 

 successfully should use a large acreage at this time, for without doubt 

 the attempt to raise alfalfa extensively has been one of the chief factors of 

 failure. Farmers in the middle west are corn raisers, not alfalfa growers. 

 Their experience as boys and their education as farmers have been along 

 lines of corn raising and up to this time they have given very little study 

 and have had practically no experience in the raising of leguminous crops 

 other than clover in a limited way. Experience must necessarily be their 

 instructor. Therefore, the advisable plan is to begin right now in the 

 following manner with a firm determination of continuing year after 

 year, if necessary, with that careful and intelligent study and stick-to- 

 itiveness that is sometimes necessary to learn how to raise this valuable 

 corn balancing plant. When the mind is thoroughly made up that alfalfa 

 will grow, the battle is half, won and then, but not until then, is it worth 

 while to proceed any further. Every portion of every farm will not grow 

 the plant. With care and judgment a plot should be selected which this 

 year has either been idle or grown early potatoes or small grain, special 

 attention being given to location and drainage. Ground on which, or un- 

 der which, water stands during certain portions of the year is avoided 

 by experienced alfalfa growers because in the former case water re- 

 sulting from spring thaws freezes and smothers out the crop, and water 

 standing in the sub-soil too close to the surface prohibits root growth. 



PREPAKATION OF THE SOIL. 



If a crop is grown on the land this season, much moisture has been re- 

 moved and it is not likely that sufficient rain will fall between now and 

 seeding time, to make plowing possible. Therefore, moisture must be 



