138 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 
This then is true: to get maximum crops of 
alfalfa, to grow it as though you were growing a 
weed, make your land alkaline with lime, instead of 
having it acid. Then get it dry, add proper amounts 
of fertility, and the only troubles you will have will 
be in caring for the crops of hay and some day in 
breaking your tough alfalfa sod. 
Where the Lime Soils Lie-——Where probably 
are soils already filled sufficiently with lime, and 
where are they deficient from the standpoint of the 
alfalfa plant? 
In no part of the arid and semi-arid region has 
there been found evidence of any need of lime in 
the soil. Often there will be found from 1%% to 
4% of carbonate of lime in those soils. This would 
be equivalent to from 30 to 80 tons of this substance 
in the top foot of soil of each acre. 
Coming eastward it is doubtful if any part of 
Nebraska, Kansas or the Dakotas need lime, except 
in their eastern portions or in especially sandy parts. 
It seems certain that the western portions of these 
states have lime enough already. Southeastern Kan- 
sas needs lime, so doubtless do parts of Oklahoma 
and the Indian Territory. 
Texas has a great diversity of soils. Parts of 
Texas are tremendously supplied with carbonate of 
lime. There alfalfa is almost a weed, suffering only 
from lack of sufficient rainfall. Eastern Texas, on 
the other hand, needs lime very badly indeed to 
make alfalfa thrive. Along rivers the alluvial soils 
are usually well stored with lime. 
