ALFALFA 



281 



The common causes of failure to get a good alfalfa stand 

 are : (1) seed is not sown at right time ; (2) the soil is 

 too weedy ; (3) the plants winter kill ; (4) the soil lacks 

 lime ; (5) the soil is poorly drained ; (6) there has been 

 no " inoculation " with alfalfa bacteria. 



Alfalfa roots break readily during freezing and thawing 

 weather. In certain sections this trouble is the most dif- 

 ficult one to contend with. Where the land is light and 



HAY LOADER. 



without a subsoil of clay, alfalfa is not likely to be in- 

 jured very much by winter killing. Alfalfa needs a good 

 start by fall, and it is best to sow it early if witch grass, 

 wild mustard, shepherd's purse, or any other common 

 weeds are liable to choke it out before winter starts. 

 Usually it is necessary to inoculate the seed bed. That 

 is, it is necessary to bring soil from an old alfalfa field and 

 scatter it over the seed bed at the rate of 200 or 300 

 pounds per acre, just before seeding. In this old soil 

 there are countless numbers of bacteria that produce little 

 swellings on the alfalfa roots. These bacteria then gather 



