804 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



We call attention to this matter at this time of the year so that far- 

 mers may be thinking about purchasing the necessary seed, should they 

 decide to seed a patch of alfalfa next spring. Alafalfa seed is not very 

 abundant, and we would advise prospective growers to purchase seed as 

 early as possible, thereby securing the best in the market. 



FIRST-YEAR ALFALFA IN INDIANA. 



C. M. Ginther, Wayne County, Indiana in Breeders' Gazette. 



The past season has proved beyond any doubt that alfalfa may be 

 grown profitably in many states east of the Missouri River, which stream 

 constituted an imaginary dead line beyond which the wonderfully prolific 

 crop could not be grown. From reports issued by the Department of 

 Agriculture the infcmaticn is derived that alfalfa has been grown in 

 every state and territory and experiments have been carried on in the 

 newly acquied possessions. It seems that the crop is as adaptable as pro- 

 lific, and when it has once obtained a start is practically everlasting and 

 a sure producer. 



Farmers generally, and with good reason, prefer to hear about the 

 actual achievements of men engaged in tne business of practical farming 

 rather than to be referred to something the powerful and resourceful 

 Department of Agriculture has done. Practical tarmers all over the 

 country have had their minds turned toward alfalfa during the past 

 year, and most of them have decided to undertake to grow the crop. But 

 they fear they will fail, for it has been truly said that alfalfa is one of the 

 hardest of crops to get started. In common with every other crop far- 

 mers have come to look upon alfalfa as demanding no more than its due. 

 for if the ground is carefully prepared and the seed of proper quality the 

 outcome is practically certain. Up-to-date farmers no longer trust their 

 precious seed in ground which has been carelessly and improperly pre- 

 pared. The theory is accepted that land preparation is essential to suc- 

 cess. Therefore alfalfa no longer need be looked upon as a crop of pecu- 

 liarly delicate tendencies, but merely like any other crop whose success- 

 ful start defines and foreshadows future harvests. Alfalfa costs more than 

 clover to start, and this has been urged against the adoption of the crop 

 as a substitute for clover, but after it has once been successfully started 

 its productiveness far more than offsets the first cost. Farmers who want 

 to raise alfalfa may do so no matter where they live, but they must make 

 up their minds to do the work right, which means thoroughly. No half- 

 way means will do with alfalfa, for it requires careful treatment as long 

 as it is immature. After that stage in its growth is reached it may 

 be left for years with little or no attention. 



Many farmers started to raise the crop last spring and many of them 

 failed. Their crops were either choked by weeds or else failed to sur- 

 vive after having started apiiarently well. Investigation of the failures 



