484 ALFALFA FARMING IN AilEBICA. 



Second, the inoculation, which should be from the 

 use of alfalfa soil in as liberal amounts as can be 

 conveniently secured. 



Third, the seedbed. Make it fine and firm. Too 

 much care can hardly be taken here, as it is not so 

 easy to get small seeds to germinate as in the spring. 

 Plow some time before seeding. Harrow, roll, har- 

 row again, work the land down to a fine firm seed- 

 bed, absolutely free from weeds. Then sow the seed. 

 Differing from spring seeding, no nurse-crop is here 

 admissible. One need not use more than 20 pounds 

 of seed to the acre. Sow it in any manner con- 

 venient and cover it an inch or a little less. Here 

 comes in play a new machine, very successful for its 

 purpose, the alfalfa drill. Several types are on the 

 market. They are made with small disks that open 

 tiny furrows for the seed and that cover it evenly 

 and nicely. Any amount of seed desired may be 

 sown. One can get a good stand with far less seed 

 if he uses the drill than if he does not. I have seen 

 stands almost too thick when only 5 pounds per acre 

 of seed was used. Make the land very smooth for 

 the drill. 



Fourth, the fertilization. Phosphorus always suits 

 alfalfa. Add to the bonemeal or acid phosphate 

 or basic slag, whichever is chosen, 50 to 100 pounds 

 of nitrate of soda per acre. Do this unless you are 

 sure that the land is rich enough to start the alfalfa 

 off rapidly. It takes a little time for young alfalfa 

 to get its bacteria to work at gathering nitrogen. 

 The nitrate of soda comes in here as a splendid aid 



