ALFALFA 153 



where irrigation cannot be given, a moderate amount 

 of seed will be more satisfactory than very thick 

 seeding, as when sown too thickly the plants would 

 suffer more from want of moisture than if sown 

 more thinly. The aim should be to obtain a stand 

 that will cover the ground evenly and as thickly as 

 will admit of the vigorous growing of the plants. 

 Because of the relatively long duration of the period 

 of the growth of alfalfa fields, it is specially im- 

 portant that good stands shall be obtained at the 

 first, and for the further reason that the plants will 

 then be better able to contend with intruding weeds, 

 the great bane of alfalfa meadows. 



When alfalfa is grown mainly for seed, it should 

 be more thinly sown than when it is grown for hay 

 or soiling food. It has been noticed that when the 

 plants stand thickly beyond a certain degree, they 

 do not seed well. Twelve to 16 pounds have been 

 mentioned as quite enough to sow for such pro- 

 duction in the mountain States. Where both ob- 

 jects are important, medium thick sowing would be 

 the most suitable. 



When sown in combinations such as have been 

 named above, it will be necessary to modify some- 

 what the amounts of alfalfa seed sown, according to 

 the proportion of the other seeds sown with the 

 alfalfa. But since many grasses are more aggres- 

 sive than alfalfa, it is not necessary to reduce the 

 amount of alfalfa seed sown proportionately to the 

 amounts of the other seeds that may be sown along 

 with it. In many instances it may be proper not 

 to reduce the amount of the alfalfa seed at all, as 



