EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



587 



THE PKEPAEATION OF THE LAND FOR ALFALFA. 



Alfalfa seed starts best on a firm seed bed. Cultivated crops such as 

 corn, beans, potatoes or beets usually leave the land in a clean condition 

 readily shaped for alfalfa. 



If the land is not sufficiently free from weeds and grass, fall or early 

 spring plowing is necessary and frequent use of the disc or spring-tooth 

 or spike-tooth harrow at intervals of a week or ten days unlil weeds 

 and grasses are conquered is advisable. If the ground is clean, thorougli 

 discing is sufticient. Just before seeding, tlu^ land sliould be rolled so as 

 to compact lirmly. On soils which ai'e deticienl in organic matter, appli- 

 cations of well-rotted manure in sufficient anunints should be made, or 

 the content of humus increased by turning under clover, vetch and rye, 

 sweet clover or other green manuring crop. 



Allalfa seed starts hcst in a firm clean seed bi»<l. A nipllnw seed bod must be firmly com 



pacli'd wi(h (be niUer. 



rLANTINM ALFALFA. 



"While the best ajid most persistent stands of alfalfa ai-e secuii'd by 

 seeding alone without a companion crop, on cultivated lands free from 

 weeds and grass, it has been dcMuonstratcd in numerous instances tliat 

 on soils of average fertility, if well-drained and free from weeds ami 

 grasses, successful stands of alfalfa may be secured by seeding in the 

 spring w^ith barley, oats or buckwheat and occasionally with wheat or 

 rye. A better growth of alfalfa will be secured by using only one l)usli('K 

 or less of barley or oats per acre, or of fall seeded grain, or one peck 

 of buckwheat. On light soils inclined to blow a half bushel of b;irley. 

 oats or spring rj-e or one peck of buckwheat seeded as a companion 

 crop will prevent injury from blowing sand. Rarley is best sni led as 



