plow, harrow and sow, not knowing that all lands do not possess the 

 essential qualities, they will meet with disappointment. 



Requirements 



Alfalfa requires a deep rich thoroughly pulverized seed-bed. If 

 the ground water is too near the surface, that is, within five or six feet, 

 the roots will rot as soon as they enter the water. If the ground is 

 surcharged with water, alfalfa will not thrive for the reason that the 

 bacteria, known as nitrogen gatherers, demand atmospheric oxygen. 

 If the air spaces between the particles of soil are clogged with water, 

 the air is necessarily driven out and the bacteria will perish ; hence in 

 such soils the land should be drained and the deeper the better. It is 

 practically useless to attempt to raise alfalfa on the flat lowlands of 

 the corn belt unless they are thoroughly drained. 



Alfalfa Requires a Sweet Soil 



Soil on account of continued cropping or because of a large accumu- 

 lation of organic matter becomes sour. This condition can be remedied 

 by the application of lime. 



Inoculation Sometimes Necessary 



It is often necessary that the soil be inoculated with a bacteria pecu- 

 liar to alfalfa, and without that inoculation the plant will not thrive. 

 These bacteria have the power to take nitrogen out of the atmosphere 

 and fix it in all parts of the plant. All soils west of the Missouri River 

 evidently contain these bacteria, but most of the soils east of the river 

 are devoid of the micro-organisms and in order to raise the alfalfa 

 successfully the ground should be inoculated. 



Qualities of Alfalfa 



Alfalfa possesses many valuable qualities. 



1. In fertile soils it makes a rank rapid growth, producing from 

 two to six crops annually, depending upon the length of the season. It 

 is not uncommon to secure from five to six tons per acre where the 

 season will permit. 



2. Alfalfa has the power to take nitrogen from the atmosphere and 

 fix it in the soil. Nitrogen being absolutely necessary to plant growth 

 and being expensive in the commercial form, this valuable plant has 

 proven a great boon to farmers, in that nitrogen can be secured and 

 made available without cost. 



3. Alfalfa as a feed is extremely rich in nitrogen, an element neces- 

 sary to promote a rapid growth of animals. When mixed with carbo- 

 hydrates in the right proportion, its value as a feed is greatly increased. 

 As a pasture for hogs and dairy cows it has no equal. 



