712 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



cess of the seeding, yet a certain per cent of the attempts to grow alfalfa 

 -are certain to fail. Variations in weather conditions, over which we 

 lave no control, and which we are unable to predict, will in many cases 

 be the cause. 



In some cases it may be impossible to determine the cause of a fail- 

 ure, though in most cases in the past there have been so many causes, 

 any one of which may have been responsible for loss, that one is sur- 

 prised at the number of successes. While it may be demonstrated that 

 a certain method of preparing the seed bed and of seeding is best on 

 one soil, and under one set of conditions, different methods may be re- 

 quired on other soils. These are facts regarding which additional in- 

 formation is necessary and which will come through the practical growers 

 who establish the crop in every community. 



Causes of Loss. — Some of the factors which may be responsible for 

 failure to secure a good crop and which should be guarded against are: 



1. Lack of proper drainage. Do not seed alfalfa on anything tut a 

 icell drained soil. 



2. A sour soil: Always test the soil for acid and if necessary use 

 plenty of lime. 



3. Lack of the necessary bacteria: When seeding alfalfa on a soil 

 for the first time inoculate the soil. 



4. Lack of sufficient available plant food. Unless the soil is very 

 rich turn under a good application of manure in plowing for alfalfa. 



5. Soil too heavy or compact. If soil tetter adapted cannot te had, grow 

 sweet clover for a year in the rotation, then plow deep. 



6. Young seeding smothered by weeds. Before seeding alfalfa see that 

 the surface soil is freed from weed seed. 



7. Smothered by nurse crop. When seeding with nurse crop reduce its 

 rate of seeding from IS to 1-2, and use winter wheat or tarley in pref- 

 erence even to early oats. 



8. Lack of sufficient moisture to germinate the seed. In case of August 

 seeding thorough work will te necessary throughout the summer in order 

 to conserve moisture. 



9. Seeding too deep. In a thoroughly prepared seed ted the drill may 

 run far too deep. The seed should not te covered much over an inch. 



10. A packed surface. A hard rain may so pack the surface that a 

 light harrowing will te necessary. 



11. Poor seed. Test the germination of the seed in advance. 



12. Insect pests and fungus diseases. 



Use sound judgment; do not be over enthusiastic; let the acreage of 

 the first seeding be small until you know the crop on your farm, then 

 grow alfalfa according to your needs. 



