SUMMARY OP ALFALFA SOWING. 477 



often given good results, although I feel sure that 

 more would do better. 



One must remember that lime is needed in both 

 topsoil and subsoil. Apply half of it before plow- 

 ing, the other half after plowing. Disk well to mix 

 the lime through the soil. Apply lime at any time 

 when the teams and men have leisure for the work. 

 If it is done a little before time for sowing the 

 seed, all the better. Do not forget that alfalfa roots 

 can gather nitrogen only in the limed area of the 

 soil, so get lime mixed all through the soil as deeply 

 as is convenient. Bear in mind that lime stays 

 where it is put ; it does not go down. For this work 

 the deep disk plows, or tilling machines, are the 

 best machines yet brought to the farmer. If these 

 are not available, choose any disk or other plows 

 that will run deeply. 



Of burned lime freely slaked, 2 tons to the acre 

 usually give alfalfa. If it can be well distributed 

 and well mixed through the soil more may be safely 

 used, especially in strong clays where plenty of or- 

 ganic matter can be turned under. I have seen 6 

 tons of burned lime used to the acre, with deep plow- 

 ing and much manure, and splendid alfalfa resulted. 

 This was at the Soldiers' home at Knoxville, Tenn. 

 Many can obtain burned lime more easily and eco- 

 nomically than ground limestone. Let them use it. 

 Good results will follow. Yet in comparison I have 

 seldom seen limedust fail to give stronger alfalfa 

 than burned lime. 



Method of Distribution. There are now made 



