GRASS AND HAY 41 



square feet in an acre, each pound seeded would give about 5 seeds 

 to the square foot. At the rate of 20 pounds per acre ekch square 

 foot would receive 100 seeds. Many of these fail to grow, and the 

 young plants meet with many accidents. Counts in old alfalfa fields 

 nave shown from 1 to 6 plants per square foot, practically equal 

 yields being secured from all. A year-old field in Virginia was 

 found to contain 20 plants to the square foot. 



The following recommendations as to the rate of seeding are 

 made for the different sections of the country. Atlantic and Southern 

 States, 24 to 28 pounds per acre ; States east of the ninety-eighth me- 

 ridian and west of the Appalachian Mountains, 20 to 24 pounds; 

 semiarid sections of the Great Plains, from 5 to 15 pounds, depend- 

 ing on the average rainfall ; 15 pounds is commonly seeded in the 

 irrigated sections by experienced growers. 



Use of a Nurse Crop. In the East and the South and in the 

 semi-arid sections of the West a nurse crop usually proves disastrous 

 to alfalfa, often resulting in the complete destruction of the stand. 

 In sections where it can be used alfalfa usually succeeds in spite of 

 the nurse crop rather than by reason of it. In the irrigated sections 

 of the West a nurse crop is often used, the two crops beeing seeded 

 together in the spring. 



In the extreme Southwest barley is sometimes seeded with al- 

 falfa in the fall. In the States bordering on Lake Michigan a half 

 seeding of beardless barley is often a success as a nurse crop for 

 alfalfa, but even in this section it is generally recommended that 

 the alfalfa be seeded alone in midsummer. In sandy soils a very 

 light seeding of small grain as a nurse crop is sometimes used to pre- 

 vent the sand from blowing and injuring the young plants. In all 

 cases the nurse crop, if ever used, should be cut as soon as it shows 

 signs of injuring the alfalfa plants. Sometimes a successful stand 

 may be secured in Ohio and neighboring States by seeding in corn 

 at the last working. This method is apt to prove a failure in case 

 of a dry season. 



Inoculation for Alfalfa. Throughout the western half of the 

 United States the soil appears to be naturally supplied with the 

 proper bacteria for the formation of the root tubercles. In the east- 

 ern part of the country, however, where the soil conditions are less 

 favorable to the growth of these bacteria, it is nearly always neces- 

 sary to supply them at the time of seeding. This inoculation may 

 be supplied either by scattering soil from a successful alfalfa field 

 or in the form of artificial cultures. 



Inoculation by Soil Transfer. Although possessed of some dis- 

 advantages, inoculation by means of soil from a successful alfalfa 

 field will nearly always produce the desired results. It is essential 

 that care be taken to avoid the introduction of seeds of noxious weeds 

 or harmful plant diseases. The bulkiness of the 300 to 800 pounds 

 of soil necessary for an acre makes it advisable to secure the soil 

 from a field as near by as possible. 



It has been found that soil from around the roots of the sweet 

 clover (Melilotus alba) is quite as effective as alfalfa soil. In most 



