120 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the more rapid will be the growth of the young alfalfa; the 

 sooner it will get above the weeds. Inoculation is never 

 needed twice on the same land, for when alfalfa has once 

 grown on it successfully it will remain inoculated for a very 

 long time, if not forever. 



Making the Seed Bed. 



I like to plow deep for alfalfa, but to plow some time be- 

 fore seeding if I can ; then work the land down firm and 

 make the surface level. We use the plank drag for this. 

 With the seed-bed level one can cover the seed accurately 

 and not too deep. Half an inch is the proper depth of 

 seeding; an inch may do no harm, but deeper than that will 

 usually kill the seed. 



We like to sow with an alfalfa drill, for then we can better 

 regulate the rate of seeding and also the depth. The drill 

 makes the seed go further also. Ten pounds of alfalfa seed 

 drilled in to a proper depth in a good seed bed will give a 

 very thick stand, and fifteen pounds sown broadcast will 

 give enough. If the seed bed is poor, however, you must use 

 more seed. 



The time of sowing does not much matter, though I prefer 

 to sow early in order to get a strong plant before winter 

 comes. As soon as hard freezing is over in the spring one can 

 sow, say, by April 15. If frosts come after the alfalfa has 

 come up, all the better ; they will kill some of the weeds and 

 will not be likely to kill the alfalfa. Alfalfa may also be 

 sown in May or June, July or even early in August. It will 

 do well sown at any season, but better I think in New Eng- 

 land if sown in early April or late July. 



As to the nurse or cover crop, there are two kinds that are 

 permissible and, I think, only two ; and only in early spring- 

 should any nurse crop be sown. Beardless spring barley is 

 the best, sown at the rate of 1 bushel to the acre, no more. 

 It will make a good cutting of hay and the hay is of good 

 quality. Oats shade the alfalfa too heavily and are an in- 

 jury to it. In midsummer sow no nurse crop at all. The 

 alfalfa then needs all the soil and all the moisture for its own 

 uses. 



