No. 4.] ALFALFA IN I\L\SSACIIUSETTS. 129 



If the soil is fertile, and if a very early crop which can be so cultivated 

 as to leave the soil in good tilth and free from weeds will be profitable, 

 then such a crop may wisely precede alfalfa; but it is desirable that 

 such a crop be harvested not later than about the middle of July in 

 order to allow a sufficient interval for the thorough tillage which is 

 desirable before the seed of the alfalfa be sown. 



If the cultivation of such an early crop as has been above referred 

 to does not promise to be profitable, or if the soil has not been pre- 

 viously limed and enriched, then a summer fallow will be found to 

 be highly beneficial. In this case the rule should be to plow in the 

 fall if possible; if not, then in early spring, and to harrow with suffi- 

 cient frequency during the spring and early summer to destroy all 

 weeds as they start and to bring the soil into a fine mellow condition 

 before sowing the seed. Under this system of management the sur- 

 face soil is made mellow and fine, capillary connection between the 

 surface and the subsoil is thoroughly established, so that water rises 

 freel}'^ from below toward the surface, and the surface soil, as a result 

 of the frequent stirring which it has received and the subsequent 

 germination and later the destruction of successive crops of weeds, 

 is brought into the best possible condition for the rapid, early growth 

 of the alfalfa, unchecked by the competition of weeds. The following 

 are the details for the system of preparation for alfalfa which is es- 

 pecially recommended: — 



1. Plow the land the previous fall or in the early spring. 



2. Apply lime at the rate of about 1^ tons per acre to the rough 

 furrow, either in the fall or early spring, and immediately incorporate 

 it thoroughly with the soil by the use of the disk harrow. 



3. Harrow throughout the spring and early summer at intervals 

 as frequent as may be necessary to destroy the successive crops of 

 weeds as they start, and to bring the soil into the finest tilth. 



4. About mid-spring, just previous to one of the harrowings which 

 the land is to receive, apply the following mixture of materials per 

 acre: basic slag meal, 1,500 to 2,000 pounds; high-grade sulfate of 

 potash, 300 to 400 povmds ; or, if it can be obtained, low-grade sulfate 

 of potash, 600 to 800 pounds. This mixture should be spread evenly 

 and at once thoroughly harrowed into the soil. 



5. When ready to sow the seed apply the following mixture of 

 materials per acre: basic slag meal, 300 pounds; nitrate of soda, 75 

 to 100 pounds. Spread this evenly and work in lightly with the 

 smoothing harrow. 



The Amount and Quantity of Lime needed. 



For all soils which incline to be heavy and which show some tendency 



to work up into clods and hard lumps, some form of burnt lime will 



be found best. Three kinds of burnt lime arc now offered for sale in 



our markets: (1) the ordinary lump lime, which should be slaked 



