70 FOB BETTER CBOFS 



the grass itself yielding more than it did before the alfalfa was 

 sown upon it. Alfalfa thus sown will not last as long as when 

 the grass is absent, but while it is there, it is extremely profitable.. 

 In any of the states east of the Missouri, we think that 

 farmers who pasture alfalfa with cattle and sheep may be 

 reasonably sure to have some losses, no matter how careful they 

 are. We have never succeeded in pasturing it ourselves without 

 some losses, but we believe it is sometimes more profitable to 

 pasture alfalfa and lose a few sheep or perhaps a steer, than it is 

 to handle our stock on other feed without this loss. 



Alfalfa Turning Yellow — This may be caused either by a 

 leaf spot or rust, or it may indicate that conditions are not 

 right with the plant, that it needs lime, drainage, or inoculation. 

 Mowing will usually check the rust; the other troubles are fully 

 discussed later on. 



Inoculation — All legumes have tiny bacteria that work on 

 their roots, forming "nodules." These bacteria draw nitrogen 

 from the air, and both supply the plants with it and also add it 

 directly to the soil. Without these bacteria the legumes will 

 soon perish, although most of the legumes seem to find their 

 proper bacteria in almost any soil. Alfalfa is an exception, and 

 it nearly always pays to supply its bacteria artificially. This 

 may be done very inexpensively. Obtain soil from some near-by 

 alfalfa field and apply it at the rate of one hundred pounds per 

 acre, sowing it late in the afternoon and harrowing it in 

 Immediately before allowing the sun to strike it. This is the 

 best way to inoculate. Soil from around the sweet clover or 

 melilotus roots answers equally well. The government will 

 furnish inoculation of another sort free; this usually succeeds, 

 but not always. Another excellent way is to sow a few pounds 

 of alfalfa seed with your red clover. After the clover is plowed 

 up, sow to alfalfa, and you will probably have the field inoculated. 



Lime in the Soil — Alfalfa thrives best on soils that are most 

 abundantly supplied with lime. It absolutely fails where lime 

 is deficient. Nothing will take the place of lime, and we believe 

 that there have been more failures throughout the eastern 

 states owing to this deficiency than from any other cause. 



Kinds of Lime — Ground limestone is now manufactured in 

 many places in the United States, and sold usually, where made, 

 for about $1.25 per ton. The finer it is ground, the more quickly 

 is it available. It should be applied at the rate of about one 

 hundred pounds per square rod, which is at the rate of eight tons 

 per acre; although where it is inaccessible, and therefore costly, 

 much lighter applications are used with good results, although 



