ALFALFA 



171 



Lime is more helpful to alfalfa than to any other crop. If the 

 soil is not of limestone origin it will pay to make heavy applica- 

 tions of lime before growing the crop. Use at least one ton of 

 pulverized limestone per acre or half that amount of burned lime. 



In the northeastern and southern states there is much danger 

 from weeds in the alfalfa field (Figs. 118 and 119). A smother 

 crop, such as oats and peas, planted in early spring may be grown 



FIG. 117. Early rather than late fall sowing of alfalfa is best as here shown. The large 

 plant is from August sowing, the others from September and October sowings respectively. 

 (Productive Farm Crops.) 



for hay and removed before midsummer. The soil is then imme- 

 diately plowed and prepared for seeding and is kept in bare 

 fallow until the middle of August when the crop is seeded. During 

 the interval the field should be harrowed several times. 



The amount of seed per acre varies in different sections. 

 Twenty to thirty pounds is recommended in the extreme East and 

 Southeast. Farther west farmers use ten to twenty pounds. 



