ALFALFA IN TEXAS. 471 
tent of soils and the growth of alfalfa. I am satisfied, however, 
that under other favorable conditions only a very small per- 
centage of lime is necessary—say three per cent of the carbonate. 
In Hays County and in Comal the amount of carbonate of lime in 
the soil is very high, some analyses which we have showing as 
much as 25 per cent. In the Pecos valley the percentage of sul- 
phate of lime, or gypsum, is very high, and such soil is admirably 
adapted to the growth of alfalfa, but that soil, unfortunately, con- 
tains a considerable quantity of alkali, mainly the chloride of 
soda or common salt, and a little carbonate of soda; but after one 
or two years’ use with a sufficiency of water these soluble salts 
seem to be washed out, and then the soils remain as perhaps the 
best alfalfa soils in the state. I understand that these same con- 
ditions prevail around Roswell, New Mex. 
I would advise sowing in the fall as the best method of estab- 
lishing alfalfa fields in Texas. This, in the northern part of the 
state—say from the Texas & Pacific railroad north—may be done 
as early as August, and preferably not later than September; 
while in the southern part of the state sowing may take place as 
late as December. The thing to be sought is to get the alfalfa 
well started with a good growth before the freezing weather of 
winter. Of course, every one now knows that in what is known 
as the rain belt proper, the main difficulties with alfalfa during 
its first year are weeds and crab grass, so far as conditions in this 
state are concerned. It is therefore well if possible to have one 
year’s clean cultivation of the land prior to putting it in alfalfa, 
and I regard it as. essential that especially the summer immedi- 
ately preceding the seeding of the land to alfalfa in the fall must 
have been one of clean cultivation. The land also for a month 
before the time of seeding should have been well plowed, not nec- 
essarily deep, in the rain belt, but the surface preparation should 
be of the best. The disk harrow is the best implement for this 
purpose, and then keep the surface well stirred with an Acme 
harrow or with a weeder, in order that when a rain comes, seed- 
ing may take place soon thereafter. When the ground is caught 
in just the right condition, the seed may be sown broadcast or in 
drills, preferably the latter, although it is a little more trouble. 
A light roller over the land will then secure a better stand. 
In the spring if weeds and grass appear, it may be necessary to 
mow the alfalfa when it is five or six inches high, merely to kill 
the weeds and the grass. If the first summer happens to be a 
dry one the crop, after having yielded one to three cuttings, may 
fail and reseeding the following fall be necessary. This will not 
usually be the case, but it sometimes happens. The farmer 
however should not be necessarily discouraged. He may either 
