ACIDITY AND LIMING. 



Alfalfa will not thrive in an acid soil. By thorough drainage, aeration of the 

 soil, and the application of lime, acidity may be largely remedied. Liming alone 

 will not be sufficient if the sourness be due to lack of drainage, and this should 

 receive first attention. The soil should then be put into good physical condition by 

 tillage, when, if lime be required, this substance can do its work thoroughly. 



Ground limestone is the most economical form in which to apply lime to the 

 soil, but in other forms it is used with good results. Water-slaked lime most quickly 

 corrects acidity ; ground unburned limestone more slowly, but less expensively. If 

 ground limestone be used, at least 2,000 Ib. per acre should be applied very early 

 in the spring, or during the year preceding the sowing of alfalfa, which is better. 

 Water-slaked lime is preferred to the air-slaked, as a larger percentage is at once 

 effective. It may be applied at the rate of about 1,200 Ib. per acre. A half-peck 

 heap to every two square rods will give a dressing of 1,000 Ib. Add water to each 

 heap sparingly, and cover with a couple of inches of earth. Then, later, mix the 

 dry powder that results with earth ; spread evenly and harrow in. 



Ground limestone is best suited for liming light lands ; the caustic lime for 

 heavy ones. Too frequent application of caustic lime to a soil may exhaust the 

 nitrogenous matter contained in the humus. 



Lime may be added by means of light anmial dressings of gypsum or land- 

 plaster. This attacks insoluble compounds' in the soil, particularly those of potash, 

 setting free the constituents. To apply about 50 Ib. per acre in the spring is 

 recommended. 



Besides correcting acidity, lime exerts a favourable effect upon the physical 

 condition of soils. It helps to separate the adhesive particles of clay, makes heavy 

 soils loose and friable, and increases the absorbing and retaining power of sandy 

 soils. It may occur, in cases where acidity is present, that the unfavourable con- 

 ditions are due, not to it solely, but to compact texture or lack of aeration, which 

 the incorporation of lime and the accompanying tillage will remedy. 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 



Preparation of the soil for alfalfa should begin with the preceding crop, applying 

 lime, if necessary, at that time. To obtain a successful growth, the land must be 

 clean, fertile, and in good physical condition. The young alfalfa-plant is delicate 

 and unable to cope with weeds, which deprive it of food, moisture, and sunlight. 

 Thoroughly cultivated crops, such as kale, corn, potatoes, or roots, assist greatly 

 in removing weeds and, being generally well manured, leave the ground clean 

 and fertile. Summer fallowing is excellent, but a complete or bare fallow is not 

 necessary. Clover-sod, pasture land, or a green crop ploughed under in early fall, 

 cultivated and rolled frequently, then ploughed again, stirring the subsoil if thought 

 advisable, brings good results. By this addition of humus the amount of plant-food 

 is increased and the texture of the soil improved. Leaving the soil in ridges for 

 winter allows access to the air and facilitates drainage. 



A sandy or loose soil demands both humus and available plant-food. These can 

 be supplied by means of either green crops or farmyard manure, and, if the latter 

 be used, it will best serve its purpose applied heavily to the crop preceding alfalfa. 

 This allows time for it to become incorporated with the soil and for the germination 

 and destruction of weed-seeds that may be in it. One authority appears to consider 

 tnat the successful inoculation of soil occurs in sufficiently direct proportion to the 

 supply of barnyard manure to demand careful attention to this point. 



Where a heavy rainfall prevails during the winter, followed by a vigorous weed- 

 growth in the early spring, fall sowing of alfalfa is not successful. As early as 

 possible in the spring the land should be cultivated and harrowed, until a seed-bed, 

 fine, smooth, and mellow, is secured, and all weed-seeds near to the surface will have 

 sprouted and are killed. Spring ploughing, where possible, should be avoided, as a 

 deep, loose seed-bed is not desirable. 



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