CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 229 



PREPARING THE FIELDS. 



The preparing of fields for seeding to alfalfa on old 

 ground cannot be better explained than in the in- 

 structions under the heading of Summer Culture for spring 

 wheat to which we refer you. As stated above, alfalfa 

 responds quickly and liberally to favorable conditions 

 not only with reference to ample moisture, but the more 

 available fertility the stronger is your plant and the more 

 sure are you of an even stand. 



Under no conditions can a man afford to slight the 

 fitting. A common remark is, "I haven't the time/' Stop 

 a moment and fairly and honestly consider what this 

 means. No one can tell what this season or the next 

 will be, therefore don't forget this one fact, that if you 

 do not do such necessary work as will guarantee a per- 

 fectly healthy stand under any and all conditions, you 

 are liable to get such dry and otherwise unfavorable 

 conditions as to cause a complete failure. Have you 

 gained anything by slighting the preparatory work if 

 you lose all your crop? All your time and seed counts 

 for nothing, you are a year behind, and no alfalfa for the 

 hogs after all. 



Let us look on the other side begin in the early spring 

 and follow closely and carefully the rules for summer tilling 

 and put in your seed either in August or early the following 

 spring. The latter we prefer, especially in sections where 

 summer and autumn rains are common, the principal reason 

 is that we are less liable to get a heavy packing rain after 

 seeding it and before it comes up, which is very serious. 



We have seen fields absolutely ruined by the heavy 

 rain followed by hot sun just before the seed comes up. 

 In sections where the heavy rains are common in spring, 

 and less- liable or very rare in midsummer and early au- 



