ALFALFA 263 



and destroys weeds. It provides an ideal seed-bed on which alfalfa may 

 be seeded. 



Time, Rate, Depth and Manner of Seeding. — Alfalfa may be seeded 

 either in the spring or late summer. In the western half of the United 

 States spring seeding predominates. In the eastern half, summer seeding 

 is more certain. Seeding either very early in the spring or too late in the 

 season should be avoided. A satisfactory stand is more certain when the 

 seeding is made on soil that is sufficiently warm to produce prompt germi- 

 nation of the seed and rapid growth of the young plants. At 40 degrees 

 north latitude spring seeding may be made during the last part of April 

 or early May. Northward or at considerable elevations the date should be 

 a little later, while southward or at low elevations it may be a little earlier. 

 For latitude 40 degrees north, late summer seeding should generally be 

 during the first half of August, northward it may be a little earlier, and 

 southward considerably later depending on latitude. In any event there 

 should be sufficient time for the alfalfa to become well established and 

 make considerable growth before winter sets in. 



The rate of seeding varies greatly, but in the eastern half of the United 

 States and Canada twenty to thirty pounds of seed per acre is advised. 

 In the western half of the United States seeding generally ranges from ten 

 to twenty pounds per acre. Where grown under the dry land system of 

 farming, five to ten pounds of seed per acre often gives satisfactory results. 



The seed should be covered anywhere from one-half inch to two 

 inches in depth, depending on character of soil and presence of moisture. 

 The manner of seeding must be determined by local conditions and avail- 

 able machinery. Alfalfa drills are advised when they are available. The 

 most of the seed, however, is sown broadcast and covered with the harrow. 

 Summer seeding is made without a nurse crop and spring seeding generally 

 with a nurse crop. The principal nurse crops are winter wheat, rye, spring 

 oats and barley. Barley is considered preferable to oats, and winter rye 

 seeded in the spring is considered best of all. The nurse crops should be 

 seeded rather thinly in order to encourage the growth of the alfalfa. 



Inoculation. — West of the Missouri River the soil seldom needs 

 inoculation for the successful growth of alfalfa. East of that, however, 

 inoculation is generally necessary. Wherever sweet clover is not a common 

 weed and wherever alfalfa has never been grown, it is always advisable to 

 inoculate this crop. 



There are two general methods of inoculation: (1) by soil transfer, 

 (2) by artificial cultures. Inoculation by soil transfer is simple, easy and, 

 with reasonable precautions, generally successful. It consists in securing 

 from a well-established field or from a field where sweet clover grows, soil 

 from that portion of the root zone where nodules are most abundant. 

 This is transferred to the new field and spread broadcast at the rate of 300 

 to 500 pounds per acre, and thoroughly mixed with the soil by disking or 

 harrowing. The inoculated soil should be spread on a cloudy day, or in 



