CHAPTER XXIV. 



Difficulties and Discouragements 



Notwithstanding the fact that alfalfa is now grown 

 successfully in all parts of the United States, in almost 

 all kinds of soils and under many dissimilar conditions of 

 climate, there are grouped here as a summary from pre- 

 ceding chapters the several difficulties and discourage- 

 ments that may confront the one who would grow it. 



I. Securing a Good Stand. Theoretically, the farmer 

 should secure a good stand every year with every crop, 

 but he does not. He obtains, however, poor stands of 

 wheat and corn and potatoes oftener than a poor stand 

 of alfalfa. Why does he fail with alfalfa? The follow- 

 ing, at least in part, suggests why : 



a He neglects to prepare sufficiently in advance. He 

 should select his alfalfa field one or two years before he 

 intends sowing. H he raises wheat, he should sow a little 

 alfalfa seed with wheat, one or even two years before 

 ready for alfalfa. This will leave a few roots and the 

 proper bacteria will have been introduced into the soil. 

 For two years there should be a vigorous fight against 

 weeds, the fewest possible being permitted to ripen seed. 



h He neglects to prepare properly for the preceding 

 crop, and sometimes plants the wrong crop, although 

 sorghum and Kafir corn are about the only very objec- 

 tionable planting to precede alfalfa. These have usually 



