30 ALFALFA 



more evenly distributed. In many places where it has 

 been found impossible to secure a stand by the ordi- 

 nary methods on account of weeds, the seed is planted 

 in drill-rows wide enough apart for cultivation by 

 horse-power. This is pradticed in the Southern states 

 and considered best. 



In England and some European countries the 

 method is employed of growing the alfalfa plants 

 in a nursery until eighteen inches high and then 

 transplanting. This destroys the tap-root, it being 

 necessarily cut off ten to twelve inches below the 

 crown. The plants are not difficult to transplant, and 

 are set in rows six inches apart with two feet be- 

 tween the rows, and cultivated. 



NO NURSE-CROP 



Alfalfa cannot be guaged by red clover in any 

 respedl. The question of a nurse-crop has sufficiently 

 passed the experimental stage to say that alfalfa sTiould 

 be planted alone. There have been satisfadtory results 

 from seeding with oats or barley, but the success was 

 in spite of, and not because of, the nurse-crop. The 

 young alfalfa after attaining some hight is aided by 

 frequent clippings and needs the sunlight, neither of 

 which is permissible if the nurse-crop is present. The 

 greatest disadvantage of the nurse-crop is that in many 

 cases it takes from the soil the moisture needed by the 

 young alfalfa at some time during the season. A 

 light nurse-crop may be advantageous on a light soil 

 that blows about badly, but it is preferable to have as 

 protedlion only the stubble from a previously grown 

 crop. Alfalfa demands, at a risk of failure, exclusive 

 possession of a soil or seed-bed, and that in the best 



