PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 295 



1 1. Don't give up trying to raise the crop because you 

 fail in your first attempt or even if the failure continues 

 to the second and third attempts. Successful alfalfa rais- 

 ers have stated that in instances they have failed as many 

 as five times in getting certain fields started to alfalfa, 

 and after they did get the field seeded, the returns from 

 it v^rould justify reseeding ten times if necessary. 



George IV. Dunn, Jackson county. — For eight years I 

 have grown 60 acres of alfalfa on bottom land w^ith 

 granite loam soil, gravelly and sandy. The plant does 

 not grow well unless the soil is deep and well drained, 

 and will not grow where there is a clay subsoil or stag- 

 nant water. Well water is reached at a depth of 10 to 12 

 feet, and the soil, unless cultivated or irrigated, becomes 

 dry and hard in the summer. As soon as the heavy frosts 

 in the spring are over, seed may be put in, after 

 thorough, deep plowing and pulverizing. I always sow 

 broadcast, 20 to 25 pounds to the acre, then harrow in 

 and clod-mash or roll. Water for irrigation is obtained 

 from streams, and it should be applied as quickly as pos- 

 sible, the best way being to flood the whole field for a few 

 days, and then take all the water off, as standing water 

 will kill the plant quicker than anything else. The quan- 

 tity of water needed the first and later years does not 

 seem to differ materially. As soon as the young alfalfa 

 is high enough, it should be mowed. This kills the weeds, 

 and gives better chance for growth. Then I cut for hay, 

 but it does not pay much the first year. If land is well 

 drained, the plant lives through the winter easily, and by 



