SOIL AND SEEDING 57 



germinated, would mean 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 plants, 

 whereas a stand of 500,000 is ample. Most of the experi- 

 ment stations favor twenty to thirty pounds to the acre, 

 although several experts at these stations insist that 

 fifteen pounds of clean, germinable seed to the acre is as 

 much as should be sowed. Even if these all grew it 

 would give nearly 44 plants to the foot square of land, or 

 four to five times as many as would thrive after two years 

 old. Of course the quantity may depend upon a variety 

 of circumstances, such as the vitality of the seed, condi- 

 tion ct the surface soil, condition of the subsoil as to 

 moisture, the method of sowing, weather conditions at 

 the titne of sowing or immediately after, also the nat- 

 ural fertility of the soil and the bacterial life present, or 

 at least the conditions for propagating or sustaining 

 bacterial life. With land prepared by sowing a few 

 pounds of seed six months or a year preceding, with a 

 heavy application of stable manure plowed under six 

 months before, perfect soil preparation, normal moist- 

 ure, and clean seed, testing ninety per cent germinable, 

 there should be no need for more than ten pounds to the 

 acre. Disking that the field should have later will split 

 the crowns and many new stalks will be sent up ; so that 

 in a few years a square foot of surface will not accom- 

 modate more than six to ten robust, vigorous plants, and 

 having these the ideal stand has pretty nearly been 

 attained. One plant has been known to send out as 

 many as 360 branches from its single main root, re- 

 sembling in form a spreading bush. A successful 

 farmer in Geary county, Kansas, who has been raising 

 alfalfa for twentv vears. seldom sows more than six 



