38 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



be avoided by applying a light top-dressing of straw or coarse 

 manure just after seeding. Another method is to drill the alfalfa 

 into the high-cut stubble of cane, kafir, or millet ; or the alfalfa may 

 be seeded in a thin young stand of small grain, such as oats, which 

 makes a rapid early growth and thus protects the seedling alfalfa 

 plants. 



Time of Seeding. The time of seeding alfalfa varies in the 

 different sections of the country, but late summer seeding is usually 

 best in the East and South. The general principle underlying the 

 time of seeding is to sow as far in advance as possible of what prom- 

 ises to be the most trying season for the young plants. Spring seed- 

 ing is the rule in the irrigated and semi-arid sections of the West. It 

 is also preferable in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas, where 

 any but spring or early summer seeded stands are very apt to win- 

 terkill. Fall seeding is sometimes practiced in the extreme South- 

 west, and late spring seeding may be necessary at times in the South- 

 ern States when drought or other unfavorable conditions have pre- 

 vented fall seeding. 



The weeds of midsummer constitute the worst danger to the 

 young stands of alfalfa in the humid sections of the country, except 

 the extreme north, where this danger is exceeded by the danger of 

 winterkilling. Wherever possible in the humid sections of the coun- 

 try late summer seeding snould be practiced. The advantage of this 

 time of seeding over that of either spring or fall is that an early- 

 maturing crop may be removed in time for seeding, the weeds of 

 midsummer are avoided, and ample time is given for the making of 

 a strong growth to resist winterkilling and the heaving of the ground 

 in the spring. The large growth of the plants possible during the 

 early fall also enables them to make a rapid early growth the fol- 

 lowing spring. On this account the alfalfa is able to resist much 

 better the inroads of weeds than if it had been seeded the previous 

 fall or during the same spring. A fair yield of hay is secured the 

 season after seeding, and in this way there is not the loss of the use 

 of the land for a year, as is likely to be the case with spring or fall 

 seeding. 



Selection of Seed. This is an important matter. The original 

 source of the seed, its vitality, and its impurities should each receive 

 consideration. Experiments indicate that it is not harmful to sow 

 northern-grown seed in the South, but southern-grown seed should 

 not be seeded in the Northern States on account of danger from 

 winterkilling. It is usually desirable to secure samples from more 

 than one source and test mem as to germination and purity before 

 purchasing. It is not a difficult undertaking to make a home test of 

 the seed. (Bu. Pit. Ind. B. 339.) 



Home Testing. It is difficult for one who is not accustomed 

 to handling alfalfa seed to accurately determine its percentage of 

 purity, especially the amount of dodder and other weed seeds pres- 

 ent, but a general estimate of the Quality of unadulterated seed can 

 be formed on the basis of color. The percentage of seed that will 

 grow can easily be determined by means of the simple tests. 



