ALFALFA. 169 



should be moved to avoid injury to the roots, and it is desir- 

 able, as in the case of clover (which is often similarly handled), 

 to remove the caps and open or turn over the cocks on the 

 morning of a good day, when it is judged to be sufficiently 

 cured to be put in. 



Top-dressing. 



If the crop has been successfully inoculated, or if the nodules 

 which have been referred to are abundant on the feeding 

 rootlets of the alfalfa, it will not be necessary to top-dress 

 with materials furnishing nitrogen, or at least if such mate- 

 rials are at all required (as may be the case upon soils which 

 are naturally very poor and light) they should be used only 

 in moderate quantities. If used freely, nitrogen stimulates the 

 growth of grasses which, therefore, are all the more likely to 

 crowd out the alfalfa. On the other hand, it is necessary in 

 order to secure large crops that the mineral elements of plant 

 food be accessible in abundance. If then the soil is not natu- 

 rally richly stocked with phosphoric acid and potash these 

 must be supplied, and the following mixture of materials is 

 recommended annually per acre: basic slag meal, 800 to 1,200 

 pounds; high-grade sulphate of potash, 175 to 250 pounds; or 

 low-grade sulphate of potash, 350 to 500 pounds. This mix- 

 ture may be applied either in the autumn or in very early 

 spring. 



If basic slag meal is used as a source of phosphoric acid it 

 is believed that a second application of lime will not be neces- 

 sary, but if any other material is selected as the source of 

 phosphoric acid a top-dressing with lime once in two or three 

 years is likely to be beneficial. 



Summary. 



The following conclusions and advice appear to be war- 

 ranted on the basis of the results obtained in the experimental 

 work and practical experience of this institution: — 



1. Alfalfa is superior to red and alsike clovers in holding 

 the land longer, giving a somewhat greater average yield, and 

 in fineness and palatability. The net energy value is about 

 the same as that of good clover, but alfalfa hay is richer in 

 protein and therefore better supplements corn silage, corn 



