138 



AGRICULTURE 



which is in itself more profitable than almost any other 

 crop that can be raised. 



5. Raising the Crop 



Soil requirements for alfalfa. It is especially im- 

 portant in raising alfalfa that soil naturally wet shall be 



School children in Cook County, Illinois, studying the relation 

 of alfalfa to corn growing. 



well drained. While alfalfa requires much moisture in 

 growing, it will not stand the dampness of undrained soils. 

 If submerged with water it will quickly die. 



In heavy damp soil there is also likely to be more acid 

 than is good for the alfalfa plant Before sowing alfalfa it 

 is, therefore, best to test the soil for acid. This can easily 

 be done by taking a little of the soil when damp and plac- 



