GETTING A STAND OF ALFALFA. 
When this is read it may be forgotten that the 
writer for many years has been a contributor to 
“Tue Breeper’s GazetTe,’’ an American agricul- 
tural newspaper. In his work for THE Gazette he 
has answered hundreds of alfalfa inquiries. Some 
of these have been put in such a way that they re- 
vealed an intelligent knowledge of the subject in the 
inquirers, but very many of these questions are mad- 
dening in the fact that they show so plainly that 
the seeker for information has almost no knowledge 
of his own soil or of any fundamental principles 
governing soil fertility or plant growth. For ex- 
ample, here is a sample question; many like it are 
received every season: ‘‘I wish to sow some alfalfa. 
My land is lightly rolling and slopes to the west.° It 
was sown in oats in 1906, was in corn in 1907.”’ 
Simply that and nothing more! What an index 
of the state of agriculture in the United States in 
this year of grace 1909! Growing alfalfa is not a 
question of seed or sowing. Sow almost any sort of 
alfalfa seed, sow at any time of moon or in almost 
any sort of way and you will succeed, if—here is the 
fatal ‘‘if’’—your soil is right. Sow with the great- 
est labor and pains, make incredible effort at 
preparation and you will fail, if your soil is wrong. 
Alfalfa growing is a soil question. Get the soil 
right and it is difficult to fail. It is easier to get a 
stand of alfalfa than of most common farm crops. 
(101) 
