ALFALFA 151 



SOW the seed without admixture. But there may- 

 be instances in which medium red or alsike clover 

 may improve the crop the first year or two that it 

 is mown for hay. But where red clover grows much 

 more vigorously than alfalfa the first season, it 

 should not be thus sown in any considerable quan- 

 tities, or the clover plants will injure the alfalfa 

 plants by crowding and overshading. Nevertheless, 

 alfalfa may frequently with profit form a consider- 

 able factor in clover grown as pasture. 



Where the main purpose of sowing alfalfa is to 

 provide pasture, various grasses and clovers may 

 be sown along with it, and in varying quantities, 

 according to the attendant conditions. The choice 

 of the variety or varieties to sow along with the 

 alfalfa should be based on the needs of the stock 

 to be pastured, and on the degree of the vigor with 

 which these grow and maintain themselves in the 

 locality. In the Northern States and Eastern Can- 

 ada timothy and Russian brome grass (Bromus 

 inermis) may be chosen. In areas with Southern Illi- 

 nois as a center, red top and timothy should be satisfac- 

 tory. In the Southern States, the claims of orchard 

 grass and tall oat grass would probably be para- 

 mount. In areas with Iowa as a center, nothing 

 would be more suitable, probably, than Russian 

 brome grass. In the mountain States, with 

 Wyoming as a center, timothy and alsike clover 

 would be suitable. In the dry upland country in 

 Washington and Oregon, Russian brome grass or 

 tall oat grass would answer the purpose. In many- 

 areas the plan of sowing clover chiefly with the 



