FERTILIZING AND DRILLING ALFALFA 229 



Fertilizer for Alfalfa. The sooner alfalfa gets a vig- 

 orous start the better; therefore it is wise to fertilize it 

 well as it is sown. We commonly use bonemeal or acid 

 phosphate at the rate of 300 pounds per acre, though 

 we have used "floats" or fine-ground raw phosphatic 

 rock with good results, using of course more to the acre. 

 In Virginia I have, by the way, seen better results come 

 from 900 pounds of floats to the acre than grew on an 

 adjoining plot where was applied 400 pounds of bone- 

 meal. Sometimes we add a little potassium to the ferti- 

 lizer, this on special soils needing that element. We 

 do not use nitrogen on soils that are inoculated and 

 think it more often harmful than helpful since it en- 

 courages weed growth. 



Alfalfa Seed Drill. A drill is on the market that 

 will sow alfalfa seed at the proper depth, and several 

 manufacturers are now v/orking at the problem of mak- 

 ing drills that will accurately place alfalfa seed as to 

 depth and amount. Such drills should save much seed 

 and give uniform stands. They can not work well unless 

 the land is made very fine, smooth and level. In using 

 such drills where a nurse-crop is desired, one can double- 

 drill; that is, follow the grain drill with the alfalfa drill. 

 In seeding later in the season where no nurse-crop is 

 permissible the alfalfa drill finds its almost undisputed 

 field. 



Summer Care of Spring-Sown Alfalfa. When the lit- 

 tle alfalfa plants are six weeks old and 5" high they will 

 be found to be inoculated and to have nodules attached 

 to their roots. Your sole care will be to keep off of the 

 field and keep all animals off. Should coarse weeds ap- 



