ALFALFA IN CROP ROTATION. 245 



ment the wheat is cut and shocked ; this will conserve 

 moisture and make the plowing easier. Or on some 

 soils and in some climates the disking alone will be 

 all that is needed for alfalfa seeding, so it is very 

 thoTough. And again there are places where when 

 the land is once well inoculated with bacteria alfalfa 

 may be sown in the wheat in the spring with first 

 rate stands resulting. If this is done the seed 

 should not be sown early; the land should get dry 

 enough to harrow and in April should be thoroughly 

 harrowed, not enough to destroy the wheat, but 

 enough to make a good seedbed, and the seed sown 

 and dragged in. This often increases the yield of 

 wheat and is pretty sure to result in a good stand of 

 alfalfa. It is not safe to try this method of seeding 

 except where wheat stands up well and w'here the 

 land is thoroughly well inoculated with bacteria. 



What Is Alfalfa Land Worth? — Carrying these 

 two examples to their conclusion, what is good al- 

 falfa producing land in the combelt of America 

 worth as an investment? 



Everything depends upon the management. Here 

 is an estimate of the cost of carrying on this farm : 



EXPENSES. 



Labor of 4 men for a year $1,600 



In terest on and deterioration In farm teams 500 



Extra labor in harvest, threshlngr bill 400 



Depreciation in machinery, repairs, fertilizer 400 



Taxes and repair of fences 500 



Total $3,400 



INCOME. 



From sales of com, wheat and alfalfa $6,700 



From colts, pigs, poultry, veals, (pasture) 300 



Total $'>000 



Less expense 3,400 



Net Income S3,600 



