ALFALFA IN TEXAS. 471 



tent of soils and the growtli of alfalfa. I am satisfied, however, 

 that under other favorable conditions only a very small per- 

 centage of lime is necessary — say three per cent of the carbonate. 

 In Hays County and in Comal the amount of carbonate of lime in 

 the soil is very high, some analyses which we have showing as 

 much as 25 per cent. In the Pecos valley the percentage of sul- 

 phate of lime, or gypsum, is very high, and such soil is admirably 

 adapted to the growth of alfalfa, but that soil, unfortunately, con- 

 tains a considerable quantity of alkali, mainly the chloride of 

 soda or common salt, and a little carbonate of soda; but after one 

 or two years' use with a sufBciency of water these soluble salts 

 seem to be washed out, and then the soils remain as perhaps the 

 best alfalfa soils in the state. I understand that these same con- 

 ditions prevail around Roswell, New Mex. 



I would advise sowing in the fall as the best method of estab- 

 lishing alfalfa fields in Texas. This, in the northern part of the 

 state — say from the Texas & Pacific railroad north — may be done 

 as early as August, and preferably not later than September; 

 while in the southern part of the state sowing may take place as 

 late as December. The thing to be sought is to get the alfalfa 

 well started with a good growth before the freezing weather of 

 winter. Of course, every one now knows that in what is known 

 as the rain belt proper, the main diflSculties with alfalfa during 

 its first year are weeds and crab grass, so far as conditions in this 

 state are concerned. It is therefore well if possible to have one 

 year's clean cultivation of the land prior to putting it in alfalfa, 

 and I regard it as essential that especially the summer immedi- 

 ately preceding the seeding of the land to alfalfa in the fall must 

 have been one of clean cultivation. The land also for a month 

 before the time of seeding should have been well plowed, not nec- 

 essarily deep, in the rain belt, but the surface preparation should 

 be of the best. The disk harrow is the best implement for this 

 purpose, and then keep the surface well stirred with an Acme 

 harrow or with a weeder, in order that when a rain comes, seed- 

 ing may take place soon thereafter. When the ground is caught 

 in just the right condition, the seed may be sown broadcast or in 

 drills, preferably the latter, although it is a little more trouble. 

 A light roller over the land will then secure a better stand. 



In the spring if weeds and grass appear, it may be necessary to 

 mow the alfalfa when it is five or six inches high, merely to kill 

 the weeds and the grass. If the first summer happens to be a 

 dry one the crop, after having yielded one to three cuttings, may 

 fail and reseeding the following fall be necessary. This will not 

 usually be the case, but it sometimes happens. The farmer 

 however should not be necessarily discouraged. He may either 



