THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XII 701 



On land well adapted to its growth alfalfa establishes itself as soon 

 as red clover, and the first year after seeding yields practically twice 

 as much hay, of far better feeding value. What practical growers say 

 about it being easier in their communities to get a stand of alfalfa 

 than red clover, will probably be found true in the greater part of the 

 state. 



Without question there are many reasons why red clover is prefer- 

 able in short rotations, and it is a very satisfactory crop where a stand 

 is easily secured. But there are many parts of the state where clover 

 is little grown because even in average seasons most of the clover 

 seedings made with the small grain in the spring fail. Many reports 

 from every section of the state indicate that of all clover seedings made 

 during the past six or seven years something over 60 per cent have 

 been lost. These estimates are influenced to some extent by the un- 

 favorable clover years of 1910 and 1911. Compare this record with that 

 of the alfalfa. Of more than 1,000 seedings of alfalfa on various soils 

 in different portions of the state only 12 per cent were lost. The con- 

 clusion is clear that the use of alfalfa in regular rotation should be 

 encouraged. 



Where alfalfa is substituted for red clover in the regular four year 

 rotation it may be plowed up as red clover would be at the end of one 

 year, or, it may continue a second year with greater profit. Com and 

 alfalfa make an unusually good combination for feeding live stock so 

 in Iowa alfalfa is entitled to special consideration in fixing the rotation. 



A profitable short rotation is corn one or two years followed by wheat, 

 the stubble to be plowed and sown to alfalfa, then alfalfa two years. 

 This rotation would work best on the smaller farms where a silo would 

 take care of the com crop in time to put in winter wheat. Otherwise 

 oats may be used, though with less profit than in the former combina- 

 tion. The corn crop would best be cut in order to sow the wheat; 

 though in many seasons wheat can be put in the standing corn to 

 good advantage and at little expense. 



To get the best results with alfalfa, however, a considerably longer 

 rotation will be necessary, something like these: 



Rotation No. 1. Corn, Corn, Winter Wheat, Alfalfa 2 to 4 years. 



Rotation No, 2. Corn, Corn, Oats, Alfalfa 2 to 4 years. 



Rotation No. 3. Corn, Corn, Oats, Red Clover; for 12 years, then Al- 

 falfa for 4 years. 



Rotation No. 4. Corn, Corn, Oats; for 12 years, then Alfalfa 4 years. 



One hundred acres devoted to rotations Nos. 1 and 2 with alfalfa 

 down for 2 years would contain, corn 40 acres, small grain 20 acres, alfalfa 

 40 acres. 



This would certainly be a very much more profitable rotation than many 

 now in operation. 



Rotation number 3 would be especially desirable for building up the 

 fertility of the soil and at the same time increasing the value of the 

 crops produced in the rotation. It will be observed that during the 16 



