CARBONATE OF LIME. 148 
plied with. The amount needed will vary; all soils 
have already some lime in them. Where there is 
marked deficiency apply 100 pounds of ground lime- 
stone to the square rod for alfalfa growing. Always 
leave a strip unlimed to note the result. 
Here are the few simple rules needed to assure 
alfalfa: 
First, water let out of the soil and air let in by 
drains. 
Second, soil made alkaline, not neutral, with 
ground limestone. 
Third, soil with some humus in it, preferably from 
stable manure. 
Fourth, soil with phosphorus and a little potash, 
the phosphorus preferably from bone meal or basic 
slag, though acid phosphate will answer. And use 
enough of it. Alfalfa feeds heavily on phosphorus. 
Fifth, good seed mixed with some soil from a 
good alfalfa field or from a sweet clover patch, sown 
on a deeply plowed, firm, fine seed bed, any time 
between April and September. 
Ground limestone insures vigorous alfalfa. Vig- 
orous alfalfa is the most energetic soil enricher in 
the world. When it has stood a few years if it is 
then plowed and planted to corn the result is simply 
marvelous. 
A field well set in productive alfalfa will yield 5 
tons to the acre. This is easily worth $10 to $15 
per ton, as alfalfa hay is nearly of the same value 
as a feed as wheat bran. Thus you note that it 
yields good interest on a valuation of $250 per acre. 
