158 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
Mr. Sprtuman. Eight bushels would bea big yield, 5 fair, and 3 bad. 
One man with whom I am in communication got only 2 bushels to the 
acre, but he got $10.40 a bushel for it, or $20.80 for that seed; and 
besides, he had the hay left, and three other crops of hay in addition 
to that. 
Mr. Henry. Which is the best crop for seed, the first or the second? 
Mr. Spruuman. [ think the second, but it is yet to be definitely deter- 
mined which of these crops is the best for seed. It is claimed that 
there are not bumblebees enough during the first crop to properly fer- 
tilize the blossoms, but in the second crop the supply of bumblebees is 
sufficient. 
Mr. Burteson. When is the best time to plant? 
Mr. Sprtitman. South of the Ohio River the best time to plant is in 
the early fall. North of the Ohio River the best time is in the early 
spring. But in the Southern States the best time isin the early fall. 
The reason for that is that the alfalfa will get the good start before the 
weeds come up. But if sown in the very early spring it gets a good 
start before the weeds start. I know one gentleman in Texas who has 
3,000 acres of land, and has 1,050 acres of it in alfalfa, and he says he 
will put the other 2,000 in alfalfa and buy 3,000 acres more, and put 
that all in alfalfa. This crop, gentlemen, is going to revolutionize 
agriculture in this country. 
Mr. Burteson.- Who is that man in Texas you speak of? 
Mr. Sprtiman. Mr. Smith, in Grayson County: 
Mr. Haveen. What is the best time to plant in Iowa? 
Mr. Spititman. In the early spring. I would sow it with early oats, 
and then cut off the oats for hay, and give the alfalfa a chance. In 
Iowa along about the first two weeks in April would be the best time 
to start it. 
Mr. Burteson. Are oats a quicker grower than alfalfa? 
Mr. Sprtitman. Yes. 
Mr. Burueson. Why would not the mixing of oats with alfalfa pro- 
tect the alfalfa in those sands in Kansas. 
Mr. Spruiman. I think that is a very good suggestion; it never 
occurred to me before. 
Mr. Grarr. Do you recommend the growing of oats with alfalfa in 
Illinois? 
Mr. Sprtuman. Yes; in the early spring in Illinois, as early as you 
plant any crop. 
The CHarrman. As soon as the ground is ready # 
Mr. Spruyman. Yes; and sow half a bushel of oats only. The object 
is to keep the weeds from coming up and smothering the alfalfa. If 
the weeds do come up in alfalfa, it is absolutely necessary to mow that 
field frequently to keep down the weeds. The next year the alfalfa 
will take care of the weeds. One of the most important discoveries 
we have made in the last year—and that is particularly important to 
the South—is in respect to the Johnson grass, which is the worst pest 
of a weed known in the United States. 
Mr. Burueson. I approve of that. 
My, Sprtman. And alfalfa and Johnson grass grow together simply 
beautifully. You can sow alfalfa right down on the very worst kind 
of Johnson land, and in a year or two there will be no Johnson grass 
in it. And if the Johuson grass is there, it will absolutely improve 
the quality of the alfalfa. 
