METHOD OF SEEDING , 29 



oughly moist there is no benefit derived from having 

 the seed covered to any considerable depth. The land 

 should be well smoothed before sowing and lightly 

 harrowed afterward. If the soil is inclined to be light 

 it is an excellent pradlice to roll, after harrowing the 

 seed in, and then harrow very lightly again. The 

 surface should never be left as smooth and hard as a 

 roller leaves it, as on most soils a crust may form 

 which the young plant cannot push through. It 

 should always be left loose on top after sowing. 



In using the drill the seed should be put just into 

 the moist soil, and the depth of the drill regulated 

 accordingly. If there is over two inches of dry, loose 

 soil on top it will be putting the seed too deep to go be- 

 low this. Alfalfa seed properly should not at most be 

 covered more than one inch. In some very light soils one 

 and one-half inches may give success, but the rule is, 

 plant as shallow as possible to insure getting the seed 

 in soil sufficiently moist to cause vigorous germination. 

 For soils that are light and rather inclined to be dry 

 using a drill with press wheels is much preferable. 

 The wheels press the soil about the seed, which greatly 

 facilitates germination. Few grain-drills are built to 

 handle satisfadlorily as small seeds as those of alfalfa, 

 but this is overcome by mixing the seed with equal 

 parts, by measure, of coarse corn-meal or some other 

 substance that will feed out evenly. By knowing the 

 length of the field and measuring the mixture for a few 

 rounds the proper adjustinent of the drill can be ob- 

 tained. The pradlice of drilling half of the seed one 

 way and then cross-drilling with the other half has 

 merits, as there is less liability to bare spots where the 

 drill may have failed to work, and the seed may be 



