MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



191 



Fie. 98. Influence on alfalfa of seeding 

 in oats when other conditions were unfavor- 

 able. On the left is the alfalfa from a square 

 rod seeded in oats, on the right seeded alone. 

 When other conditions are favorable the 

 nurse crop does less damage. 



shows an instance where entire failure resulted from sow- 

 ing with oats. When conditions are more favorable it may 

 persist in spite of the oats. If seeded alone in the spring, 

 the weeds are likely to 

 injure it. It is, there- 

 fore, best to sow it in 

 late summer or early 

 fall. Experiments in 

 nearly all of the states 

 east of Colorado have 

 shown this to be the 

 best time. Where small 

 grain or potatoes come 

 off the land in time, it may be sown after these crops. 

 As far north as New York, it is usually best to summer- 

 fallow the land. It is then manured and limed in the 

 spring when plowed, if these treatments are necessary, 

 and is kept harrowed and free from weeds until about 

 August 1. If this cannot be done, it may be seeded with 

 grain in the spring and the grain cut for hay. 



In order to be sure that the seed is alive, a germina- 

 tion test should be made (page 51). The seed is some- 

 times adulterated with bur clover, yellow trefoil and 

 sweet clover. Dodder is the worst weed in the seed. Of 

 399 samples examined by the United States Department 

 of Agriculture in 1907, about half (191) contained dodder. 

 Seed should, if possible, be purchased from regions where 

 dodder is least prevalent. Before buying seed, a sample 

 should be examined for dodder seed. 



The beginner should sow at least 25 pounds of good 

 seed per acre. Older growers whose soils are in condi- 



