Alfalfa in Kansas. 237 



soil, the crop if planted turns sickly and yellow at the end of the first 

 or beginning of the second year of its growth, and eventually dies or thins 

 out until it is an unprofitable crop to leave. Alfalfa bacteria are usually 

 present in overflow land along creeks and rivers and in the soils of the 

 central and western parts of the state, but in eastern Kansas, where al- 

 falfa has not been extensively grown, the bacteria are not present in the 

 soil and inoculation is necessary except on bottom soils. 



There are two common ways of inoculating soil with alfalfa nitrogen- 

 gathering bacteria. One way is to use soil from alfalfa or sweet-clover 

 fields, the other to use pure cultures of these bacteria. Almost any seed 

 house can supply the pure cultures of these organisms, and if the di- 

 rections are followed closely in using the cultures, good results are usually 

 obtained. The soil method of inoculation is the surest, safest, and gener- 

 ally the best method to follow. An old field of alfalfa or sweet clover 

 should be found that is well set with nodules. The surface inch of soil 

 should be scooped off and the next four or five inches of soil taken for 

 inoculating purposes. This soil should be broadcasted, without drying, 

 as soon as possible over the field to be inoculated. The work should be 

 done on a cloudy day if possible, and the soil harrowed-in immediately 

 after it is scattered. From 300 to 500 pounds of soil applied to each acre 

 will usually be sufficient to produce inoculation, and will often mean a 

 successful stand of alfalfa when neglect to inoculate may mean failure. 

 (See "Inoculation," in index.) 



LIMING FOR ALFALFA. 



Acid soils or soils deficient in lime will not grow alfalfa successfully. 

 The nitrogen-fixing bacteria will not thrive under acid soil conditions, 

 consequently when alfalfa is seeded on acid soils it can not obtain nitrogen 

 from the air, and thus can not make a satisfactory growth. It is not an 

 easy matter to determine whether or not a soil is in need of lime. There 

 are practically no acid soils in the western four-fifths of Kansas, but in 

 the eastern one-fifth of the state large areas of acid soils occur, and it 

 is advisable in this section of the state to have the soil tested for acidity 

 before seeding the crop. The best plan is to send a sample of soil which 

 is representative of the field to the Agricultural College at Manhattan 

 for the purpose of having the soil examined. If the soil is found to be 

 acid the acid condition can be corrected by applying ground limestone, 

 hydrated lime or air-slaked lime. Ground limestone is usually the cheap- 

 est form in which to apply the lime. An application of from one to three 

 tons should be made to the acre. The lime should be applied after plow- 

 ing. The limestone applied should be finely ground and thoroughly 

 worked into the soil with a disk and harrow. Where a large area is to 

 be covered with lime, a lime spreader is needed, but a small quantity can 

 be spread satisfactorily by hand with a shovel, or a manure spreader 

 may be used. When a manure spreader is used the bottom of the spreader 

 should be covered with manure or fine straw and the lime placed on top 

 at the proper thickness for the spreader to spread the quantity of lime 

 desired. (See "Lime," in index.) 



