574 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



During the past season a number of farmers have been conducting co- 

 operative experiments with the Iowa experiment station in order to deter- 

 mine what methods should be employed in order to secure the best results. 

 These men are located in almost every section of the state, and dealt with 

 all sorts of soil conditions, yet wherever the most approved methods were 

 followed, without exception, excellent stands were secured and the yields 

 thus far this season have been very satisfactory. "While the results of these 

 tests, together with other alfalfa investigations are reported in a bulletin 

 soon to be i'ssued by the station, they may be briefly stated here for the 

 benefit of those who contemplate putting in alfalfa this fall. 



SOIL. 



Because of the large and very rapid growth made by the alfalfa plant, 

 it is essential that it shall have a large supply of readily available fertility. 

 It is necessary therefore that alfalfa should be seeded on soil rather above 

 the average for the best results. Most good corn land when properly 

 handled, will grow alfalfa successfully, providing that it is well drained 

 and sweet. 



DRAINAGE. 



It is useless and unwise to attempt to grow alfalfa on land which is not 

 thoroughly well drained, either naturally or by the use of tile or ditches. 

 Some of the best results have been secured on bottom lands as these are 

 likely to be quite fertile, but no matter how much available fertility is 

 present, an attempt to grow alfalfa without good drainage is almost sure to 

 result in failure. 



Many fertile upland soils are not suitable for alfalfa growing, owing to 

 the presence, too near the surface, of a compact, tenacious subsoil so im- 

 pervious to water as to prevent proper drainage. 



While good stands and yields of alfalfa have frequently been secured on 

 fertile soils without the aid of manure, yet these yields are in almost every 

 case largely increased by it. On soils which are only medium in fertility, 

 manure is essential to success, and on soils below the average in fertility, 

 successful stands are practically never secured without its liberal use. The 

 use of manure is by far the most important factor in securing successful 

 results wi'th alfalfa on Iowa soils. 



Ten to twelve tons per acre of well rotted manure should be applied 

 before plowing for alfalfa. 



PREPARATION OP THE SEED BED. 



To insure the best possible stand of alfalfa, the land chosen for the crop 

 should be plowed in the spring following the application of the manure, and 

 worked down into good condition at once. The field should then be har- 

 rowed or disked at least every two weeks in order to insure germinating 

 and killing as many of the weed seeds present as possible, and also to con- 

 serve the moisture. 



It is not necessary however, to give up an entire season to securing a 

 stand, though this is the surest method. Manure may be applied and the 



