380 



FIELD CROPS 



plowed for the small grain. On sandy land, it is well to sow 

 the seed in grain stubble or to scatter a light top dressing of 

 straw over the field to protect the young plants from injury 



by the blowing of 

 the soil particles. 



477. Sowing the 

 Seed. The usual 



% w *% 



A 



* 





4 



* * 



Fig. 118. Seeds of alfalfa and common impuri- 

 ties. Seeds at right are natural size. A, alfalfa; 

 B, yellow trefoil; C, sweet clover; D, buckhorn; 

 E, wild carrot; F, wild chicory; G, curled dock; 

 H, large-seeded dodder; I, small-seeded dodder. 

 (From Farmers' Bulletin 339.) 



method is to sow 

 from 12 to 20 

 pounds of alfalfa 

 seed to the acre 

 without a nurse 

 crop, sowing the 

 seed with a broad- 

 cast seeder and 

 covering it by a 

 light harrowing. 

 The heavier rate of 

 seeding is desirable 

 in the humid dis- 

 tricts, particularly 

 where alfalfa is not 

 commonly grown. 

 Twelve to 15 

 pounds to the 

 acre are sufficient 

 throughout the 

 Rocky Mountain 

 and Pacific states. 

 A grass seed at- 

 tachment to a 

 grain drill gives 

 even distribution 



