SEEDING AND CUTTING. 215 
Virginia, under the direction of C. V. Piper, J. M. 
Westgate and Nicholas Schmitz of the Department 
of Agriculture, J. F. Jack is sowing what may 
be well termed an alfalfa ranch. His estate consists 
of nearly 2,000 acres along the Rappahannock River. 
When Mr. Jack took this land much of it was in a 
most impoverished condition. 
The land is first plowed and planted to corn with 
250 pounds per acre of raw bone meal. Sometimes 
other fertilizers are used. The plowing is deeper 
and more thorough than the land has ever known 
before. 
Next, at last cultivation of corn, crimson clover 
seed is sown at the rate of about 20 to 30 pounds 
per acre. A small growing wild hairy clover is 
found on these fields that probably inoculates the 
crimson clover and it grows well. In May this 
ermmson clover is knee high all over the fields. Then 
it is turned under, plowing about 8 inches deep. Lime 
is put on, either ground limestone at the rate of 
about 2 to 3 tons per acre or burned lime. Intensive 
cultivation is given the land till August, the pur- 
pose being to store the land with as much moisture 
as possible. 
Then men come and sow with hand labor inoc- 
ulating earth. This Mr. Jack can get from his 
own farm, though originally he had it shipped to 
him from sweet clover beds along the Potomac 
River. Immediately behind the men who distribute 
the earth walk other men with wheelbarrow seeders: 
and distribute alfalfa seed. Behind these men come 
