IN THE DIFFERENT STATES 1 47 



putting it in with a drill in the spring when the soil is 

 in condition. Web-worms and gophers seem to be the 

 principal enemies. The former are difficult to com- 

 bat; the latter are easily poisoned. Alfalfa is not gen- 

 erally understood and appreciated. The tendency is 

 to sow, and as soon as it comes up to treat it like a 

 patch of sorghum, and turn hogs on it until they kill 

 it all, and then say, ' Alfalfa has failed.' It would be 

 better if alfalfa in Oklahoma were not pastured at all. 

 While it may be pastured without harm if done intelli- 

 gently, as a rule we advise against it, for the reason 

 that it is nearly always overdone. Our fields on a 

 medium upland farm are only partially successful. 

 Bunch-grass is making its appearance and seemingly 

 crowding the alfalfa out. ' ' 



Station Press Bulletin No. 56 says : "Experience 

 with this valuable hay crop has shown that it will 

 thrive in many sedlions of Oklahoma, and the acreage 

 of it should be increased. A careful survey of the 

 reported failures leads to the conclusion that too close 

 pasturing has been the usual cause. Many fields of 

 alfalfa have been ruined by this method, while fields 

 close at hand that have been cut for hay, and pastured 

 but little, are in excellent condition. 



"Alfalfa has a long tap-root, and will not do well 

 on soil with hard-pan close to the surface. It thrives 

 best on soils that have been plowed deep and well cul- 

 tivated. Early plowing for spring seeding is an ad- 

 vantage, as it gives the soil time to settle and become 

 filled with moisture before sowing. The seed should 

 be sowed as soon as the soil is in good condition in the 

 spring. When the plants are about six inches high 

 they should be cut with a mower set high, and this 



