132 CLOVERS 



■clays in the North, that where deep subsoiUng is 

 practiced alfalfa is not only more easily established, 

 but it also grows with added vigor. 



On upland soils sandy or gravelly in character 

 where the rainfall is much less than normal and 

 where the subsoil is not underlaid with sheet water, 

 alfalfa will not usually succeed, notwithstanding 

 that it may grow well on these soils where the rain- 

 fall is normal. On such soils it is not easy to get 

 a stand of the plants, as they are much apt to perish 

 in the dry weather of the first season, but if once 

 established on such soils the plants have much power 

 to grow even where the rainfall is considerably less 

 than normal. 



Alfalfa will not grow well in soils naturally wet 

 until they are drained. And when drained it will 

 not grow with normal vigor, on what may be termed 

 slough soils, where the subsoil is far down and cov- 

 ered with a deep covering of vegetable mold. What 

 are termed slough soils in the Western prairies, there- 

 fore, are not well fitted for the growth of alfalfa. On 

 these it may not succeed well, when it may grow with 

 much vigor on the adjoining upland. When some 

 wet soils are drained, alfalfa may not succeed well 

 on them for a time and later may grow luxuriantly. 

 This may arise from the lack of time for proper 

 aeration after being drained, or from the want of 

 lime to further correct acidity in the soil, or from 

 the want of the proper bacteria. Notwithstanding 

 that alfalfa will not grow well on undrained lands 

 that are naturally wet, and notwithstanding that it 

 will perish if the roots reach standing water at a dis- 



