4. Alfalfa has a splendid effect upon the physical condition of the 

 soil. This is due to its large, abundant and extensive roots. The roots 

 grow to a depth of from five to sixteen feet if they are not hindered by 

 standing water. They improve the physical condition by loosening 

 the soil, thereby admitting water and air. They improve the chemi- 

 cal condition by the formation of humus resulting from the decaying 

 of the roots. The humus thus formed, together with the air and water 

 combines with other elements in the deeper subsoils rendering them 

 soluble. Such compounds are then carried to the seed-bed by capillary 

 attraction. This accounts for the increased yield which the farmer is 

 sure to secure from any crop planted where alfalfa has been grown. 



When to Sow 



Young alfalfa will not tolerate weeds, hence the seed-bed should 

 be prepared and thoroughly cultivated until all weeds are thoroughly 

 destroyed before the alfalfa is sown. If it is sown in the spring, the 

 ground should be plowed early in the fall and disced or cultivated from 

 time to time until winter, and again disced and cultivated in the spring, 

 insuring the destruction of all weeds and grass. If the winters are 

 not too severe, a good stand can be secured by sowing the latter part of 

 August. The ground should be plowed in the spring and cultivated at 

 intervals during the summer. The summer cultivation serves a double 

 purpose, namely, water is conserved and weeds are killed. It is a 

 good plan the first year to leave the last cutting on the ground as a 

 protection against freezing. 



Amount of Seed to Sow 



The amount of seed to sow per acre ranges from ten to twenty 

 pounds. If drilled it does not require as much as when sown broadcast. 

 The seed-bed should be made extremely mellow and after the seeds are 

 sown they should be immediately covered by harrowing very lightly 

 and subsequently by running over the ground with the corrugated 

 roller. If the sun is extremely hot and the seeds are not covered, their 

 vitality is greatly weakened. Alfalfa does not do well if covered too 

 deeply. 



Bacteria 



When the ground is not inoculated naturally, the bacteria must be 

 provided, otherwise the plant will not thrive. This can be done by 

 sowing on the ground, after it is thoroughly prepared, soil from an old 

 alfalfa field or soil where wild sweet clover has grown. The wild sweet 

 clover (melilotus alba) grows in most sections of the country along the 

 fences and the roots are usually covered with nodules containing bac- 

 teria. These bacteria are identical with those found on alfalfa roots. 

 It is not a bad plan in securing soil from the wild sweet clover beds, to 



