192 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



tion for alfalfa may sow 20 pounds, or less. In some sec 

 tions as low as 10 pounds are sown. 



Inoculation is absolutely necessary for success. Inocu- 

 lation may take place naturally or may have to be applied. 

 Soil from sweet clover will inoculate alfalfa. Most of the 

 cases of natural inoculation appear to be due to the pre- 

 vious growth of sweet clover on the soil. Common clover 

 soil does not inoculate alfalfa. West of the Mississippi 

 river, inoculation is not so often required; but, east of 

 it, probably half of the soils require inoculation when 

 alfalfa is sown for the first time. 



Even in fields that require inoculation for success, a 

 few plants usually become inoculated from some source. 

 These usually look large and dark green as contrasted 

 with the small yellowish uninoculated ones. If such a 

 field is planted and reseeded, it is often well inoculated. 

 It is, therefore, often desirable to make a new trial on 

 ground where alfalfa has thus failed. 



Peas, beans, peanuts, clover, do not often require 

 inoculation. So far as we know, alfalfa and soy-beans 

 are the only legumes that require inoculation in New 

 York. Alfalfa requires it on most soils, and we have not 

 yet seen any soy-bean nodules where the soil was not in- 

 oculated. Many examinations have shown clover to be 

 inoculated in all cases, even on soils where it does not grow 

 well. 



Several methods have been developed for inoculating 

 legumes, but the best method is to take soil from a field 

 that has grown inoculated plants of the desired kind. 

 One or more bushels of this soil can be scattered on an 

 acre of land. This is an easy and inexpensive method. 



