LEGUMINOUS FORAGE CROPS 189 



to the square foot, yet alfalfa is perhaps seldom injured by 

 heavy seeding, but often it would be better if more seed had 

 been used, although the practise varies from 15 to 30 pounds 

 per acre or from 75 to 150 seeds per square foot. Probably 

 in no case should less than 20 pounds per acre be sown, except 

 where grown for seed. For seed it is customary to sow from 

 12 to 1 6 pounds per acre. When grown for hay the only ad- 

 vantage to be gained in sowing 20 rather than 30 pounds of 

 seed is the saving in the cost of the seed. Thick seeding is 

 an advantage, because the alfalfa stands better, the hay is a 

 better quality and weeds are subdued. 



214. Time of Seeding. Assuming suitable weather condi- 

 tions, alfalfa may be sown any time during the growing season, 

 say between April i and October i. Generally speaking, the 

 best time is during the month of April; in some sections the 

 second best time is during August or September, depending on 

 locality, while the poorest months are June and July. In 

 regions having very light rainfall in autumn seeding should be 

 done in the spring. Alfalfa, being a warm weather plant, 

 should not be seeded as early in the spring as the clovers. The 

 best time for sowing alfalfa is midway between the best time 

 for sowing oats and that for planting maize. One reason why 

 satisfactory results are not obtained in sowing with oats is 

 that the seeding is apt to be done to suit the oats and not to 

 suit the alfalfa. 



215. Method of Seeding. The depth of seeding must depend 

 on the soil and climate, the drier the climate and the sandier 

 the soil the deeper the seeding. In general, the seed should be 

 covered deeper than red clover. In humid climates, good results 

 are obtained by sowing with the seeder attachment to the grain 

 drill, adjusting the spouts so as to deposit the seed in front 

 of the hoes. In the more arid sections, the grain drill itself 

 is used, the alfalfa being mixed with soil, maize meal or bran 



