SUMMER SOWING OF ALFALFA 231 



seeded with weeds and foxtail grass, so that they do 

 not dare sow in the spring. There are certain rather 

 rigid requirements that must be met if one is to sow in 

 the summer or fall. First, manage to get a good seed- 

 bed, fine, firm, moist and deep. He may slight his seed- 

 bed somewhat in early April, but he must make it very 

 perfect indeed if he sows in July, August or Septem- 

 ber, as the hot suns of the summer soon take out the 

 moisture and leave the seeds to. perish. The ways most 

 commonly adopted for midsummer seeding are to plow 

 in the spring and afterward give weekly harrowings to 

 retain moisture till mid-July, by which means also one 

 will destroy most of the weed seeds that lie near the 

 surface ; or, sow the land to barley, oats or wheat, cut 

 off the crop either for grain or for hay and at once plow 

 the land and prepare the seedbed for alfalfa; or, plant 

 early potatoes, as early as possible in the spring, enrich 

 the land well where they are and dig as soon as possible, 

 then immediately prepare the land and sow to alfalfa. 

 The latter plan works well w r here one wishes to grow 

 potatoes. The heavy fertilization needed for the crop, 

 and the frequent cultivation during the season of its 

 growth, together with the cultivation given by digging, 

 leave the land in good order for alfalfa. When one plows 

 a stubble to sow to alfalfa one should take all possible 

 care to avoid loss of moisture. The best method is to 

 harrow and make fine each morning and afternoon what 

 is plowed during the half day. One may plow till 10 

 o'clock, then harrow on the strip till noon, plow again 

 till 4 o'clock and harrow till 6. The use of the roller 

 will also aid in conserving moisture at this time. 



