PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 29/ 



PENNSYLVANIA 



Prof. George C. ll'alson, Pennsylvania experiment 

 station. — The experiment station has received many let- 

 ters requesting- information pertaining to the growth and 

 cultivation of alfalfa. From these communications it 

 has been learned that many farmers have attempted to 

 grow alfalfa on land that is not at all well suited for this 

 purpose, and consequently, many failures have resulted. 

 The first attempts to grow alfalfa were made wholly by 

 spring seeding, which, in most instances, has proved quite 

 unsatisfactory. As alfalfa starts slowly and exists as a 

 small plant for a considerable length of time, the weeds 

 have an abundant opportunity to germinate and outgrow 

 the more delicate alfalfa plants. Whatever conditions 

 favor the growth of weeds, particularly in the early part 

 of the growing season, materially increase the risk of 

 failure with alfalfa. Largely on account of the weeds and 

 grass, late in summer or fall seeding has been most sat- 

 isfactory. While a drouth at this time may seriously 

 interfere with germination, yet the injury from insuffi- 

 cient moisture is not likely to be so great as that from a 

 rank growth of weeds earlier in the season. Land that 

 has been cultivated for a few weeks during the summer 

 may be sown to alfalfa in August or September with 

 comparatively little danger from annual weeds, which 

 are so troublesome in spring seeding. Land that is in- 

 fested with noxious perennial weeds and grass would not, 

 of course, be in suitable condition for seeding after a 

 fcAV weeks of cultivation, no matter how thorough it 

 may be. The most tenacious grasses and weeds, like 

 Canada thistles and quack grass, should be given at least 



