ALFALFA FAILURES 217 



are deficient in lime and in nearly all the mineral ele- 

 ments of fertility. In their natural state they would not 

 nourish alfalfa well enough to keep it alive for one year. 

 Alfalfa had always failed there until at last men learned 

 of its lime hunger. Since then, by using sufficient car- 

 bonate of lime on these sandy soils, alfalfa-growing has 

 been established, and as healthy alfalfa plants are now 

 growing within sight of the blue waters of the Gulf of 

 Mexico as can be found anywhere. If one wishes al- 

 falfa anywhere one can have it if one is willing to pay 

 the price, and the price is simply what it will cost to lime 

 the soil well, preferably with unburned raw ground lime- 

 stone or carbonate of lime, then to make the soil dry and 

 fertile and sow seed with inoculation. Success is abso- 

 lutely certain, given these conditions. What will all this 

 cost? Is the game worth the candle? 



It all depends on what one is trying to do, on one's 

 ideals, agriculturally. It depends on the man, as well 

 whether he is a "first-rater" or content with things sec- 

 ond best. It is easy enough, however, to estimate what 

 it will cost to make land ready for alfalfa land that is 

 naturally very deficient. Experiments show that if one 

 uses burned and fresh-slaked lime one will need from 

 2 to 4 tons to the acre. More than this might decrease 

 the bacterial, content of the soil enough to lessen the 

 chance of a stand and crop. Less than 2 tons to the 

 acre would not do the trick. If air-slaked lime is used, 

 as much as 3 to 6 tons to the acre may be applied. If 

 ground and unburned limestone can be had, and this 

 is best of all, one may use as much as one chooses and 

 the proper amount to satisfy will be found to be 4 to 10 



