CARBONATE OP LIME. 143 



plied with. The amount needed will vary; all soils 

 have already some lime in them. Where there is 

 marked deficiency apply 100 pounds of ground lime- 

 stone to the square rod for alfalfa growing. Always 

 leave a strip unlimed to note the result. 



Here are the few simple rules needed to assure 

 alfalfa : 



First, water let out of the soil and air let in by 

 drains. 



Second, soil made alkaline, not neutral, with 

 ground limestone. 



Third, soil with some humus in it, preferably from 

 stable manure. 



Fourth, soil with phosphorus and a little potash, 

 the phosphorus preferably from bone meal or basic 

 slag, though acid phosphate will answer. And use 

 enough of it. Alfalfa feeds heavily on phosphorus. 



Fifth, good seed mixed with some soil from a 

 good alfalfa field or from a sweet clover patch, sown 

 on a deeply plowed, firm, fine seed bed, any time 

 between April and September. 



Ground limestone insures vigorous alfalfa. Vig- 

 orous alfalfa is the most energetic soil enricher in 

 the world. When it has stood a few years if it is 

 then plowed and planted to corn the result is simply 

 marvelous. 



A field well set in productive alfalfa will yield 5 

 tons to the acre. This is easily worth $10 to $15 

 per ton, as alfalfa hay is nearly of the same value 

 as a feed as wheat bran. Thus you note that it 

 yields good interest on a valuation of $250 per acre, 



