44 



Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



growers report having tried cultures, which are applied to the seed ac- 

 cording to the directions sent with them. Not a few growers, upon being 

 asked whether or not they inoculate for alfalfa, replied that they are in 

 the habit of applying barnyard manure, with a spreader, at the rate of 

 about ten loads per acre. 



H : i B 



FIG. 35. The smoothing harrow levels and pulverizes the surface soil. The 

 harrow cart is a great labor saver. [Courtesy Moline Plow Co.] 



FIG. 36. Inoculated portion of alfalfa field to the left; uninoculated portion to the right. 

 [Courtesy Nebraska Experiment Station.] 



One can not be sure that inoculation is necessary until a trial seeding 

 has been made. Then, if the plants look yellow and seem to be dying, 

 and if upon examination no nodules are found on the roots, there is in- 

 dication that inoculation is necessary. Of course, if one has reason to 

 believe that the soil needs inoculation it will pay to inoculate without 

 first making a trial. (See pages 215 and 236.) 



