270 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



MISSOURI 



Prof. M. F. Miller, Agronomist, Missouri experiment 

 station. — Alfalfa is being grown with success on various 

 types of soil, although many soils are not well adapted 

 to its growth. A knowledge of the peculiarities of the 

 plant will ultimately make it possible to extend its culture 

 to most soil types of the state. Liberal manuring is the 

 key to successful culture on upland soils. The manure 

 may be applied before plowing and also as frequent top- 

 dressings. The value of the crop as a feed and its high 

 yield, where favorable conditions are supplied, make it a 

 particularly desirable one to grow, at least in small areas, 

 on farms where mixed f aiming or dairy farming is prac- 

 ticed. While alfalfa makes a most nutritious pasture 

 crop, it does not lend itself well to pasturing unless cer- 

 tain precautions are taken. Where it is grown for hay, 

 difficulty is often experienced in harvesting the first, and 

 sometimes other cuttins^s, on account of wet weather. The 

 silo may be used in such cases. The stiff subsoils of the 

 state are responsible for most failures reported, because it 

 requires some knowledge of the methods of handling the 

 crop to make it succeed under such conditions. Alfalfa 

 is not adapted to our soils, liming, manuring or drainage 

 being necessary to prepare such for the crop. If sown on 

 upland soils that have never grown alfalfa or Sweet 

 clover, it is benefited by inoculation. On bottom lands or 

 lands that are very fertile, inoculation has little or no 

 effect. The surest and often the simplest means of inocu- 

 lation is by means of inoculated soil. The cultures pre- 

 pared for seed inoculation have in many cases given ex- 

 cellent results, but they are still in the experimental stage 



