166 



kl'.XMK S AGRICULTURE. 



Inoculation of 

 Alfalfa Seed. 



Alfalfa Adapted 

 to Hillsides. 



Fertilization of 

 Alfalfa. 



Alfalfa Meal. 



coat of farm manure each winter when the land is 

 frozen, to make up for the vegetable matter that 

 has been taken off with the crop. 



In some parts of Canada alfalfa has not been a 

 success, owing, it is believed, to the want of the 

 proper bacteria in the soil; but nitro-culture, with 

 full directions how to apply it, is now being sent out 

 by the agricultural colleges to all farmers who make 

 application for it. 



After a farmer once gets a start he has simply 

 to take surface soil from an inoculated field (about 

 two hundred pounds per acre) and sow it over a 

 held prepared for seeding. In this way the whole 

 farm may be inoculated in due time. 



The writer has, however, tried alfalfa in several 

 districts in Ontario, with abundant_ success, without 

 any nitro-culture, simply by preparing the soil in 

 the way previously explained, and sowing only when 

 the soil is warm. The best months are May, June 

 and July. The necessary bacteria cannot work in 

 cold soil. See 111. 84. 



Alfalfa is specially adapted to hillsides that are 

 liable to wash and difficult to cultivate. Such land 

 should be seeded with fifteen pounds alfalfa and live 

 pounds orchard grass per acre. This makes a good 

 mixture to cut for hay or for pasture. For best 

 results the first growth only should be cut for hay. 

 After this the field will provide abundance of good 

 pasture during the summer season, and this is pre- 

 ferable to cutting two or three crops in one season. 



Alfalfa is fertilized by the honey bees the same 

 as alsike. Either the first or second growth of 

 alfalfa can be allowed to ripen for seed, but the 

 second growth is preferable. 



Throughout Canada alfalfa meal has come to 

 be recognized as an important food for bringing 



