(3) Just previous to the first harrowing subsequent to the applica- 

 tion of the lime, apply a mixture of the following materials, per acre: 



Basic slag meal, 1500 to 2000 lbs. 



Low grade sulfate of potash, 600 to 800 lbs. 



Spread the mixture evenly and incorporate into the soil by harrow- 

 ing. 



(4) Shortly before seeding apply the following mixture, per acre : 



Basic slag meal, 300 lbs. 



Nitrate of soda, 100 lbs. 



Spread this evenly and work in lightly with the harrow. 



Whether manure should be used depends upon conditions. If a 

 supply of fine manure, free from weed seeds, is available, and if the 

 soil is in a very low state of fertility, a dressing of manure is advisa- 

 ble ; but on soils in good condition the application of manure is 

 hardly called for, and from some points of view is undesirable. It 

 almost invariably carries some weed seeds and its use produces the 

 conditions which are favorable to the growth of grass, since it sup- 

 plies an abundance of quickly available nitrogen. Alfalfa does not 

 need large quantities of available soil nitrogen, for under suitable con- 

 ditions it can draw this element from the air. It seems wise, there- 

 fore, except upon soils which are exceptionally low in fertility at the 

 start, to depend mainly upon fertilizers alone, selecting such as will 

 furnish in abundance such elements of plant food as phosphates and 

 potash. It is believed that basic slag meal will be found peculiarly 

 suited to the crop, as it will furnish a considerable proportion of lime 

 in addition to fairly available phosphoric acid. 



2'ifne of seeding. It is believed that the best results with alfalfa 

 will usually be obtained by sowing it either alone or together with 

 oats or barley about July 15th to August 5th. Previous to these 

 dates, and as a result of the frequent harrowings which the field re- 

 ceives during the spring and early summer months, most of the weed 

 seeds which were near enough to the surface of the ground to ger- 

 minate will have started, and accordingly a cleaner stand of alfalfa 

 will be secured than if the seeding be earlier. 



Seed. Great care should be taken to secure the very best northern 

 grown seed free from dodder. This parasite, if present in any quan- 

 tity, will soon ruin a field of alfalfa, and if it becomes established 

 upon the farm is likely to prove a most pernicious weed. The quan- 

 tity of seed which gives best results seems to be about thirty (30) 

 pounds per acre. 



Soil inoculation. In localities in which sweet clover does not nat' 

 urally grow, inoculation of the soil with the bacteria which develop 

 nodules upon the roots and which give the plant the capacity to 

 assimilate atmospheric nitrogen is advisable. If sweet clover is in- 

 digenous in the locality, such inoculation is usually unnecessary, as 

 the bacteria which develop nodules upon the roots of sweet clover 

 appear to be identical with those found on alfalfa roots. If inocula- 

 tion is necessary it can be carried out in two ways : 



