7i 



covered with a number of small nodules, or tubercles, and 

 if these nodules are examined under a strong microscope, 

 the tissues will show great numbers of bacteria. It is 

 through the action of these organisms that the plant draws 

 nitrogen from the air. Grasses take no nitrogen, except 

 that which is in soluble form in the soil. Alfalfa manu- 

 factures the most valuable and expensive fertilizer. By 

 raising alfalfa you not only provide the best forage for 

 your stock, but you are enriching your fields at the same 

 time. When this crop is plowed under or fed to stock, 

 and the manure returned to the ground, it supplies a large 

 quantity of nitrogen. And in my opinion, in feeding 

 alfalfa to your cattle and using the manure from those 

 cattle on your land, you are distributing the bacteria nec- 

 essary to the successful growing of alfalfa on your land. 



ENEMIES OF ALFALFA. 



In the eastern states the greatest enemy to the success- 

 ful growth of Alfalfa is weedy land. Of our native 

 grasses, witch grass is the worst, so don't sow alfalfa on 

 land infested with witch grass. The worst weed which 

 growers of alfalfa east of the Missouri river have to con- 

 tend with is dodder or love vine. This weed, or the species 

 that does the greatest damage, is an importation, and has 

 spread over a large part of the states where alfalfa is 

 grown. It was brought to this country in flax and alfalfa 

 seed from Europe. Dodder belongs to the morning glory 

 family, but unlike the common morning glory of the fields, 

 it is parasitic, the stems are without leaves and appear like 

 threads, orange or yellow in color. When the seed of the 

 dodder germinates the young, the plant is able to grow 

 for a short time upon the supply of food laid up for it in 

 the seed, but unless its stem can feed it dies. As soon as 

 the dodder touches the stem of the alfalfa it twines itself 



