136 CLOVERS 



the sowing of the seed that may be desired. Alfalfa 

 in these soils will serve even better than medium red 

 clover in such situations, since while it is growing, 

 it will produce more hay or soiling food, and con- 

 sequently should excel the former in the fertility 

 which it makes available. 



East of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio 

 River, alfalfa will frequently follow cultivated crops, 

 as corn, potatoes and field roots, and when the fields 

 are broken, it will be followed by crops other than 

 legumes. On many soils the influence which this 

 crop has on relieving the surface soil from excessive 

 moisture, through channels opened into the subsoil 

 by the decaying roots, is so helpful as to considerably 

 stimulate production in addition to the fertilizing in- 

 fluence which it exerts directly. Particularly good 

 crops of corn, the small cereal grains, and even 

 field roots may be grown after alfalfa. 



On soils east of the Mississippi and south of the 

 Ohio, the rotation will be somewhat similar. But 

 on Southern soils alfalfa will frequently follow im- 

 mediately crops especially grown to be plowed under 

 as green manures for the benefit of the alfalfa. 

 These trops include cow peas, soy beans, crimson 

 clover, and to a limited extent, burr clover. It will 

 also be followed frequently by crops of cotton and 

 other non-leguminous plants, the growth of which 

 in the United States is confined to the area now 

 being considered. 



In the area west of the Mississippi and east of the 

 semi-arid region beside the mountains, alfalfa may 

 follow the small cereal grains, and may in turn be 



