ALFALFA 



part of the country where the growing season is short, 

 and as many as eight crops a year where the climate 



enables it to grow almost the 

 whole year. It yields from 

 three to eight tons per acre of 

 hay in a year. 



Bacteria needed. This crop 

 prefers deep, sweet soils. It is 

 especially suited to arid regions, 

 where it is easily raised by irri- 

 gation. Sometimes the bac- 

 teria which live on the roots 

 and gather nitrogen from the 

 air are not present ; and if this 

 is the case, the soil should be in- 

 oculated with the nitrogen-fix- 

 ing bacteria. This is usually 

 done by taking soil from an 

 alfalfa field where the bacteria 

 are present, and scattering it 

 over the ground to be inocu- 

 lated. 



Seeding. Alfalfa is grown 

 from seeds. Most of the seed 

 comes from dry regions where 

 alfalfa growing is an important branch of farming. The 

 seeds are small, so there should be a well-prepared seed 

 bed that is well pulverized, free from weeds, and com- 

 pact. The seeds may be sown broadcast, but better 



ALFALFA PLANTS 



