FOR BETTER CR(JRS 65 



known, and is sometimes used as a pasture for sheep and cows, 

 althoug-h one must observe due care in de-pasturing' it with these 

 animals since tliey may bloat. 



As a soiling crop alfalfa easily heads the list. It yields the 

 most herbagfe and of the highest quality, and indeed, it is much 

 better for the meadow, and usually for the animals, to feed it 

 off by soiling rather than by de-pasturing. 



Alfalfa Seeding — Much needless mystery has been made of 

 the alfalfaseeding question. So much m3'ster}% in fact, that many 

 farmers are afraid to try it at all. Jones recommends one method 

 and Smith another; and how is the farmer to tell which is right? 

 We began the study of the alfalfa question twentA'-five years ago, 

 and since that time we have carefully watched fields of it in 

 almost every state in the Union. We have corresponded with 

 thousands of successful growers, and with thousands of other 

 growers who were having troubles, and we really believe now 

 that we are able to furnish reliable data as to just what it is 

 necessary to do in order to succeed with this plant. 



We could almost sum the matter up in four words: Lime, 

 drainage, humus, and inoculation. Perhaps we have given these 

 in order of their relative importance. Lime is necessary on soils 

 not naturally of limestone formation or filled with limestone 

 pebbles. The importance of this is impressed upon us more and 

 more each 3'ear; in fact, we believe today, that there have been 

 more failures throughout the L'nited States on account of 

 insutficient lime in the soil than from any other cause. 



Then as to drainage; there is no use in planting alfalfa on 

 any soil where water may ordinarily be found at a depth of less 

 than three feet. The alfalfa may grow all right until its roots 

 strike this water, but then it will probably die. 



Fertile soil contains enough humus. Impoverished soils may 

 be so deficient that special preparation must be made before 

 alfalfa can possibly succeed. Stable manure, where obtainable, 

 is the very best thing for adding the proper humus to the soil ; 

 and we would urge its liberal use wherever possible. It might be 

 best to use this a year in advance of sowing alfalfa, and follow 

 with clean cultivation to overcome what weeds might be sown 

 with the manure, or, a good way is to top-dress the alfalfa during 

 its first winter, using a manure spreader and applying the 

 manure evenly without large chunks that might smother the 

 3'oung plants. On Impoverished soils, we would recommend 

 preparation for alfalfa one or two 3-ears in advance, growing such 

 crops as crimson clover, mammoth clover, cow peas, Canada 

 field peas, orsoja beans, and preferably turning them under or 

 else pasturing them off, so as to give the soil the greatest benefit 

 possible from them. 



We recommend inoculation, not that it is always necessary, 



