PASTURE AND FORAGE CROPS 167 



well on closely grazed Bermuda sod ; this com- 

 bination will give good grazing every month of the 

 year. 



The germ causing tubercles on the roots of this 

 plant does not occur in all Southern soils ; but if the 

 rough, uncleaned seed is used, no other soil inocu- 

 lation will be necessary, since in gathering the 

 seed the curious twisted pods are raked up off the 

 ground and the dust that adheres to them usually 

 carries a sufficient number of these germs to serve 

 for inoculating the field. 



This plant is closely related to alfalfa and supports 

 the same root-tubercle germ. When it is desired to 

 sow alfalfa in the Southern states, it is wise to select 

 land upon which the burr clover grows or else to 

 first plant the land to burr clover, using the un- 

 cleaned seed. 



Alfalfa (^Medicago sativa). — This mainstay of the 

 agriculture of the West is seldom planted at the South 

 and only seems to succeed in certain restricted locali- 

 ties. Where it can be grown it should be more 

 widely planted as it is a most valuable plant for hay 

 and pasturage. It is a perennial and when once 

 established lasts for a number of years. 



Lands should be very thoroughly prepared for 

 sowing alfalfa as it is often rather difficult to secure a 

 stand. One of the chief reasons of failure with this 

 crop at the South is the fact that most Southern 

 soils do not contain the alfalfa tubercle germ, so that 

 soil inoculation in some form is necessary. As has 

 been stated, one of the easiest methods for doing 

 this is to first plant the land to burr clover, 



