678 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The station records show that since 1904, IG different seedings have 

 been made. Some crops were seeded in the spring with a nurse crop, 

 vrhile others were put in alone. Still other plots were seeded during 

 August on summer fallowed land. Other variations are also recorded, 

 such as the method of seeding, inoculation of the field, use of lime or 

 manure, etc. However no comparison is to be made of these different 

 treatments. The conclusions drawn might be entirely misleading, be- 

 cause the best methods and treatments necessary will vary greatly in 

 different seasons or on different soils. The readings are presented rather 

 to indicate the results which may be expected from this crop when the 

 demands of the plant are fully met. 



As has been said, the soil types found at Ames are rather average for 

 the state; brown loam, black sandy loam and black silt loam. The fer- 

 tility is only average, no commercial fertilizers are ever used and ma- 

 nure was used only in such manner as is possible on any good stock 

 farm. 



In preparing the seed bed or in seeding, no methods were used which 

 would not be practical on any Iowa farm. In preparing the seed bed, how- 

 ever, as in all the operations, the work was thoroughly and carefully per- 

 formed, for with a crop at stake so valuable as is alfalfa, no farmer can 

 afford to leave anything to chance. 



The yields secured under these conditions are recorded in tables XVI, 

 XVII, XVIII. 



In 1905 five plots gave an average yield of 4.36 tons of hay per acre, 

 the greatest yield from any one plat being 6.12 tons. In 1906 the aver- 

 age yield of three plats was 5.42 tons per acre, and in 1907 with two 

 new seedings considered, the average was 4.5 tons. The yields for 190S 



Fig-. 17. — Members of farmers' clubs when visiting the experiment sta- 

 tion inspect the alfalfa fields. 



