Alfalfa in Kansas. 29 



falfa is grown ranges all the way from clay, through silt and gumbo, 

 into sandy loams. The subsoil may be of a gravelly nature, a compara- 

 tively stiff clay, or of any of the intervening grades. In fact, we find 

 alfalfa growing in almost every kind of soil in the state, with varying 

 degrees of success. It may be said, in a general way, that the types of 

 soil found in the counties having the larger acreages are the best types 

 of alfalfa soil we have. 



The ideal alfalfa soil is fertile, full of humus, strong in lime, and in 

 first-class mechanical condition friable and mellow. The subsoil should 

 be of a nature to admit the penetration of alfalfa roots and the free up- 

 ward and downward percolation of water; it should be deep and well 

 drained. Alfalfa will not stand wet feet, and the water table should not 

 come nearer than five or six feet of the surface to secure the best results. 

 A more extended discussion of alfalfa soils may be found on pages 230 

 to 241. 



FIG. 17. An alfalfa field on an upland farm, in Cherokee county, three years after 

 seeding. This excellent stand was secured by manuring, liming and underdraining 

 the field. [Courtesy Kansas Experiment Station.] 



That wet, sour soils may be corrected and made to grow paying crops 

 of alfalfa has been brought out in this investigation. Returns indicate 

 that the soils requiring such treatment are located chiefly in the south- 

 eastern corner of the state, where rainfall is heavy and natural drainage 

 often poor. The methods of correction usually include draining, liming 

 and manuring. 



SOIL DRAINAGE. 



Two methods of drainage were reported tile and open ditches. Not 

 a few growers report that surface ditches modified dead furrows are 

 satisfactory. However, in no instance has there been an unfavorable 

 report- from those who have tried tile drainage, and most reporters are 



