PREPARATION OF THE SEED BED 143 



field so level that the surface water cannot run off readily 

 after showers and heavy rains. On level lands in winter 

 when melting snow or rain fills the small depressions, ice 

 may form over these shallow basins and smother the plants. 

 Alfalfa can be grown on nearly all soils, but does best on 

 gravelly or limestone soils where the surface soil is a clay 

 loam. It is extremely hard to get a catch of alfalfa on 

 sandy soils unless the land is heavily manured and given 

 special treatment. Heavy clay lands will grow alfalfa to 

 advantage if the ground is plowed deep and thoroughly 

 pulverized. A soil that has grown grain and hay crops 

 through a series of years and has been thoroughly subdued 

 is best suited for alfalfa growing. Fall plowing is to be pre- 

 ferred, as a beneficial influence is exerted on the soil by the 

 winter freezing. If spring plowing is resorted to, the ground 

 should be rolled and dragged before and after seeding. 



Fig. 78. Preparing the seed bed for alfalfa. 



Fall-plowed land should be disked in early spring and imme- 

 diately dragged with a fine-tooth harrow. It should then 

 be kept mellow with the harrow until the time for seeding. 



