THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XII 677 



It must be remembered that treatments such as lime and inoculation 

 influence not only the first crop after seeding, but every year's crop so 

 long as the alfalfa remains. 



In a number of cases it has been observed that the differences were 

 much more marked in the second and third years than in the first. 



Considering these average results from trials over the state, can one af- 

 ford not to use manure, or lime or inoculation in seeding a field to al- 

 falfa even though some of these may not be necessary on the particular 

 soil in question? 



There is only one answer; no farmer can afford to run the risk of 

 failure since there is no way of measuring in advance the results of these 

 treatments. 



After these co-operators had grown alfalfa for two years and observed 

 the effect of different treatments, some general information was asked of 

 each as to the success with which alfalfa could be grown in his locality, 

 provided proper methods were used in preparing the seed bed and in 

 seeding. The replies to these general questions indicate, perhaps better 

 than anything else, what may be expected of the crop when its few sim- 

 ple requirements (sweet soil, bacteria, available fertilizer, etc.) are met. 



Of all the co-operators who responded to the question, "As a result of 

 your experiment have you decided to grow alfalfa on a larger scale on 

 your farm?" 100 per cent responded in the affirmative. 



All but one answered in the affirmative the question, "As a result of 

 your experiment would you recommend alfalfa to your neighbors?" 



The question, "Why have you decided to increase your acreage and 

 to recommend alfalfa to your neighbors?" brought the following an- 

 swers : 



"I consider it the most profitable crop the Iowa farmer can grow to a 

 certain extent." 



"Because I am sure it can be raised on the right kind of ground with 

 right treatment." 



"It is a valuable crop, also a soil fertilizer." 



"Because it is the most profitable crop we can raise." 



"I have been raising it for 15 years and it is much more profitable." 



"It is the most satisfactory forage crop ever planted." 



"I believe it will be a paying crop. This is quite a dairy section and 

 we need rich feeds." 



"I think it is the best forage crop we have." 



"I think it is a very fine crop." 



"Because I believe it is a practical crop for Iowa." 



"Because I think it is the best paying crop we can raise." 



TRIALS AT THE STATE EXPERIMENT STATION 



As an indication of what alfalfa will do in Iowa in a series of years, 

 when grown on what might be termed an average Iowa soil, the yields 

 secured from numerous seedings made on the Iowa Agricultural Ex- 

 periment station fields at Ames will be of interest. 



