THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 253 



the spring cereals. Our reason for emphasizing this matter is that the 

 immediate surface dries out much more rapidly as the season advances, 

 and as the seed is too small to bear a deep covering there may not be 

 sufficient moisture to induce germination. It must be remember that 

 weed seeds are getting in their work just as soon as the soil thaws out, 

 and unless the seed is sown, early weeds will be given just that much 

 start. 



Another matter of great importance is that of preparing a most per- 

 fect seed bed. We know no better use that can be made of the roiler 

 than on this very occasion. This will smash any small lumps that may 

 be on the surface, and prepare the seed bed in the best possible manner 

 for te reception of the seed. Under such conditions it will be an easy 

 matter to insure a uniform covering of the seed. There is still another 

 matter that is frequently overlooked in sowing small seeds of this kind, 

 and that is given too little covering. Where the drill is available we 

 would strongly advise its use. It will do much more good than harm If 

 all the seed is covered to a depth of one inch. The common harrow may 

 insure such a covering to part of the seed, but much will receive consid- 

 ten pounds of seed per acre in one direction with the drill and the same 

 erably less while some will be left entirely bare. A good plan is to sow 

 quantity in the other direction. An alfalfa crop put in as above described 

 will generally keep pace with weed growth, and where such is the case one 

 is generally pretty sure of Va stand. 



SUCCESS WITH ALFALFA IN ILLINOIS. 



Orange Judd Farmer. 

 Farmers who have tried to grow alfalfa in Illinois have met with 

 somewhat indifferent success. Theoretically the soil ought to produce 

 large crops. The Illinois experiment station several years ago began a 

 series of experiments to determine what was lacking. Alfalfa was grown 

 in pots and treated in various ways. A little later field experiments in 

 twenty-five different sections of the state were inaugurated. The results 

 of these tests published in bulletin 76, indicate that alfalfa can be success- 

 fully grown if the soil is infected with the bacteria which are found in 

 tubercules on the roots of the alfalfa. If these are not present the soil 

 must be exceedingly rich and receive a liberal application of barnyard 

 manure of nitrogenous fertilizers. Even the rich black soil of Illinois does 

 not furnish sufficient available nitrogen to produce profitable cropsi of 

 alfalfa. 



In some sections of the state alfalfa has been grown successfully for 

 some years. The soils from these fields are thoroughly infected with the 

 alfalfa bacteria and can be used for inoculating new areas. In the ex- 

 periments conducted by the station this infected soil was applied at the 

 rate of from 320 to 1,920 pounds per acre, the heavier applications being 

 the most effective. Prof. C. G. Hopkins states in the bulletin that where 



