184 THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



Calcareous soils, particularly in the humid regions, are espe- 

 cially adapted to this plant. Hence where the soil and the sub- 

 soil are friable, and contain a large quantity of lime, alfalfa 

 will thrive even though the rainfall be as high as 35 to 40 

 inches annually. Soils of the Miami series, especially Miami 

 stony loam and Miami gravelly loam, are, when properly 

 drained, either naturally or artificially, well adapted to alfalfa. 

 In general, the chocolate-colored river bottoms and maize and 

 oat lands rather than wheat and grass lands are the best 

 adapted to alfalfa. (C. A. 115) 



207, Conditions Affecting Success with Alfalfa. The con- 

 trolling factors in the culture of alfalfa are (i) the climate; 

 (2) the character of the soil; (3) the treatment of the soil, 

 including additions of lime and fertilizers; (4) inoculation 

 with alfalfa bacteria; (5) the kind and quantity of seed; (6) 

 the time of seeding; and (7) the after treatment of the crop. 



In the western states where alfalfa is chiefly grown, it grows 

 So readily, especially when irrigated, that seed is in some cases 

 sown without any preparation of the soil, except the removal 

 of the sage brush by hitching a team at each end of a railroad 

 iron and dragging it over the ground. Between this condition 

 and a condition that requires the greatest care there are many 

 degrees. 



208. Treatment of the Soil. Alfalfa is not stoloniferous and 

 cannot spread except slightly as previously indicated. (198) 

 It does not take possession of the soil and crowd out other 

 plants as may Kentucky blue grass or white clover. On the 

 other hand, grasses and weeds will take possession of the land 

 between the alfalfa plants and reduce their growth. It happens 

 that those soils least adapted to alfalfa are best adapted to 

 grasses, and hence on such soils grasses are likely to obtain 

 the ascendency. For this reason the previous treatment of 

 the soil should be such as to bring about the most vigorous 



