262 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



Alfalfa seed two years old may generally be used with safety. Old seed can 

 be detected by its having a much darker color and less luster than fresh 

 seed. Good seed will usually germinate in less than ten days. One 

 hundred seeds placed between blotters or in a flannel cloth between two 

 dinner plates wall make a satisfactory test. 



Need for Fertilizers and Lime. — In the western half of Xorth America 

 commercial fertilizers and lime are seldom needed for alfalfa, but in the 

 eastern half these are frequently of great importance. Large crops of 



alfalfa remove from the soil consider- 

 able quantities of lime and the essen- 

 tial mineral plant foods. For this 

 reason, large crops cannot be main- 

 tained except on fertile soils or soils 

 that are well supplied with plant food 

 and lime ; 400 or 500 pounds of a fer- 

 tilizer containing about 10 per cent of 

 phosphoric acid and 6 to 8 per cent of 

 potash should be applied at the time 

 of seeding. If the field is. continued 

 in alfalfa for several years it should be 

 top dressed with manure or commer- 

 cial fertilizer every year or two. 

 There is no danger of getting the soil 

 too rich for alfalfa. Manure should 

 be used that is as free from weed and 

 grass seeds as possible. Their intro- 

 duction into the alfalfa should be guarded against, and the alfalfa culti- 

 vated for weed destruction if necessary. 



Alfalfa has but little tolerance for soil acidity. It removes much lime 

 from the soil and grows best on soils well supplied with lime. Soils should 

 be tested for acidity before seeding to alfalfa, and a liberal supply of lime 

 provided wherever there is any indication of its need. It is immaterial in 

 what form this is applied. The finely pulverized raw limestone is fully 

 as effective as equivalent amounts in any other forms. 



Preparation of Seed-Bed. — Alfalfa demands a finely pulverized, moist, 

 fairly compact seed-bed, free of weeds. This can generally be best provided 

 by devoting the land during the preceding year to an inter-tilled crop, 

 such as corn, potatoes or tomatoes. The preceding crop, if liberally 

 manured, will obviate the necessity of applying manure directly for the 

 benefit of alfalfa. This has the advantage of permitting weed and grass 

 seeds in the manure to germinate and be destroyed. The residual effect 

 of the manure will be sufficient to start the alfalfa. The best seed-bed 

 can be secured by plowing late in the spring and disking or harrowing 

 at intervals of ten days or two weeks until the first half of August. 

 Such treatment pulverizes the soil, compacts it, conserves soil moisture 



Alfalfa Out- yields other Hay Crops. 



