ALFALFA IN CROP ROTATION. 245 
ment the wheat is cut and shocked; this will conserve 
moisture and make the plowing easier. Or on some 
soils and in some climates the disking alone will be 
all that 1s needed for alfalfa seeding, so it is very 
thorough. And again there are places where when 
the land is once well inoculated with bacteria alfalfa 
may be sown in the wheat in the spring with first 
rate stands resulting. If this is done the seed 
should not be sown early; the land should get dry 
enough to harrow and in April should be thoroughly 
harrowed, not enough to destroy the wheat, but 
enough to make a good seedbed, and the seed sown 
and dragged in. This often increases the yield of 
wheat and is pretty sure to result in a good stand of 
alfalfa. It is not safe to try this method of seeding 
except where wheat stands up well and where the 
land is thoroughly well inoculated with bacteria. 
What Is Alfalfa Land Worth?—Carrying these 
vwo examples to their conclusion, what is good al- 
falfa producing land in the cornbelt of America 
worth as an investment? 
Everything depends upon the management. Here 
is an estimate of the cost of carrying on this farm: 
EXPENSES. 
Labor of 4 men fOr @ Year. .... ccc cece cee cece eee eens ennee $1,600 
Interest on and deterioration in farm teamS..............-.. 600 
Extra labor in harvest, threshing Dill..............+6. eee 400 
Depreciation in machinery. repairs, fertilizer............... 400 
Taxes and repair of fenceS...........scee eee cee eee tenet ene ees 500 
MOtADsicsnisae vacua swtectaraieng, Migteicitere aistaremiiaind uae binweecanete $3,400 
INCOME. 
From sales of corn, wheat and alfalfa..... ......esee eee eee $6,700 
From colts, pigs, poultry, veals, (pasture).......... ese eee ee 300 
Mo ba Laedvedaestadiciedein vate RRR 2 Saye oh eee wigs seep LE Ne $7,000 
LOSS EXPENSE. 20... cece i cece eee eee e eee rene ee ten e tenes 3,400 
Neti come wsineccc oacaenanegy os WANE eR ey mami nen ti $3,600 
