Alfalfa in Kansas. 



53 



COVERING THE SEED. 



Growers were unanimous in asserting that alfalfa seed should be 

 covered lightly. Replies specified depths varying from one-half inch to 

 one and one-half inches, there being about the same variation in all 



parts of the state. The average 

 depth preferred is about one inch. 

 "Harrow lightly," "Cover as shal- 

 low as possible," "Harrow once," 

 "Harrow lightly, both ways," and 

 "Harrow just enough to cover," are 

 typical replies. One grower said, 

 "It depends on the soil; deeper in 

 sandy soil"; and another said, "It 

 must go into moist soil, and must 

 therefore be planted at least one 

 inch deep." 



SUCCEEDING WHERE PREVIOUSLY 

 FAILED. 



Another question asked was: 

 "Have you succeeded with alfalfa 

 on land where it had previously 

 failed? How?" The majority of 

 the growers who have tried report 

 that it generally can be done. The 

 first thing to consider is the reason 

 for the previous failure. It may 

 have been because of a need of 

 drainage, manuring, liming or in- 

 oculation, or because of faulty soil 

 preparation, or of temporarily un- 

 favorable weather or soil condi- 

 tions. When the cause of the fail- 

 ure is determined and removed or 

 avoided, a second trial will gener- 

 ally prove successful. 



IMPROVING THE STAND. 



The following question was 

 FIG. 46. Hand seeders are used to a asked : "With a poor stand of al- 



considerable extent. [Courtesy Cyclone . . . , . 



Seeder Company.] falfa, have you ever had any suc- 



cess in improving the stand by re- 

 seeding without plowing it up?" The replies to this question would indi- 

 cate that while considerable success is had in reseeding patches or spots, 

 it is not often that a stand which is thin throughout is thickened by re- 

 seeding without plowing it up. Most of the instances of successful thick- 

 ening are with alfalfa not over a year old. Old alfalfa has a tendency to 

 shade and smother out any young plants that may start. 



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