EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 589 



SEEDING IN PASTURE MIXTURES. 



It is a good practice to include a pound or so of inoculated alfalfa seed 

 in all pasture and meadow seedings. The value of the pasture is in- 

 creased and the presence of occasional vigorous plants in following j^ears 

 indicate the areas of fields adapted to alfalfa, and will aid in insuring 

 thorough inoculation of these areas, so that when seeded entirely to 

 alfalfa, the soil will carry the proper bacteria for nodule formulation. 



THE RATE OF SEEDING. 



The amount of seed which has given success ranges from ten to twenty 

 pounds per acre. Where planted under excellent conditioms if seed is 

 of high germination, ten to twelve pounds will give a sufficient stand. 

 Since these conditions cannot nlwnys he secured it is usually advisable 

 to use fifteen pounds per acre. 



THE SEED TO PLANT. 



The varieties, or strains of alfalfa best adapted to Michigan are varie- 

 gated strains such as the Grimm, Baltic and Cossack. Regional strains of 

 common alfalfa which have produced seed for a number of years in north- 

 ern states or regions of similar climatic conditions rank next in value. 

 The U. S. imports annually a large amount of Turkestan seed. Plants 

 from this seed are extremely short lived under ^Michigan conditions. 

 Fortunately, this seed is characterized by the appearance of the wliite 

 seeds of the Russian nap weed, a tooth-shaped seed somewhat larger 

 than alfalfa seed, and chalky white in color wliich makes it easily 

 recognizable. Such seed does not prove successful in Micliigan. Per- 

 uvian and Arabian seed is imported in considerable nniounts, chiefly for 

 growing in southern California and the Gulf States. This seed produces 

 plants which are adapted only to mild climates and which are short-lived 

 under our conditions. 



At the present time there is not sufficient Grimm, Baltic, and Cossack 

 alfalfa produced to supply the market demands. A large part of the 

 alfalfa planted in Michigan must be common alfalfa, produced in the 

 United States. Those ordering seed should insist on knowing the locality 

 in which it was produced, and should secure .Vnu'rican grown seed, pre- 

 ferably from the norlhwest or grown no farther sontli than Kansas. 



The variegated strains such as Grimm. KaHic and Cossack are char- 

 acterized by closely set and branching crowns, and l)y greater develop 

 ment of roots with a teiidency toward branching. This type of crown 



