highest degree of success with alfalfa appears to have been attained 

 on moderately heavy soils. The soil of the typical drumlin of the 

 state is in many cases well adapted to the crop. Freedom from weed 

 seeds or roots such as witch grass is highly important. Localities 

 where sweet clover grows naturally are likely to be peculiarly adapted 

 to alfalfa, as also are those parts of the state where the soils are rich 

 in lime. 



Preparation for alfalfa. In preparing for alfalfa the most thorough 

 possible tillage and such treatment as will free the surface soil from 

 weeds and living roots are of prime importance. If a very early crop, 

 the cultivation of which will leave the soil free from weeds and in 

 good tilth, will be profitable, then such a crop may wisely precede 

 alfalfa ; but the crop should be one which can be harvested not later 

 than about the loth of July, in order to allow a sufficient interval for 

 the thorough tillage desirable before seeding. If the cultivation of 

 such a crop does not promise to be profitable, then a summer fallow 

 will be found to be highly beneficial. 



The following system of preparation is recommended : 



(i) Plow the land the previous fall. 



(2) Apply lime to the rough furrow either in the fall or early in 

 the spring, and immediately incorporate thoroughly with the soil by 

 the use of the disk harrow. In most parts of the state success with 

 alfalfa is impossible without first thoroughly liming the soil. Burned 

 lime at the rate of about a ton and one-half to the acre should be 

 used. This should be slaked with enough water to cause it to crum- 

 ble into a fine, dry powder. This should then be evenly spread and 

 immediately worked in. The usual beneficial effects of liming are 

 clearly shown by the cuts. 



ALFALFA. 



No Lime. 



Lime. 



The two cylinders were filled with an equal quantity of thoroughly 

 mixed soil, so that conditions are known to have been identical at 

 the start. 



A 



