SOWING ALFALFA 8EED 381 



of the seed, but is a slower method than the use of some 

 type of broadcast seeder. The seed should be covered to 

 a depth of from Y^ inch to 2 inches, depending on the 

 soil and the rainfall. It should be covered deeper in light 

 sandy soils than in heavy ones, and in dry sections or in 

 dry seasons than in wet ones. 



478. Time of Seeding. Success is most often attained 

 with alfalfa when it is sown in the summer or early 

 fall, rather than in the spring. From the middle 

 of June to the middle of July is the best time to sow alfalfa 

 in the Northern states; the latter part of July or the first half 

 of August is preferable in the central section; in the 

 South, September is best. The proper time to sow varies 

 to some extent from year to year, as it is desirable 

 to get the seed into the ground when it contains plenty of 

 moisture. If the land has been prepared some weeks in 

 advance and has been harrowed after every shower so as to 

 save all the rain which has fallen, there is usually no trouble 

 from this source, except in the semiarid districts. Where 

 the precipitation is light, spring seeding is often best, in 

 order to take advantage of the June rains. There is usually 

 more trouble from weeds with spring seeding, unless special 

 treatment was given the previous year to clear the land of 

 them. 



479. Sowing with a Nurse Crop. A nurse crop is not 

 commonly used with alfalfa, though in some sections its 

 use is considered good practice. On sandy land a nurse 

 crop may protect the young alfalfa plants from wind injury, 

 but it should be seeded very thinly. Under most conditions, 

 the use of a nurse crop is more likely to result in injury than 

 in benefit. 



480. Inoculation. When alfalfa is sown for the first 

 time in a locality, inoculation is quite often necessary to 



