484 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 
Second, the inoculation, which should be from the 
use of alfalfa soil in as liberal amounts as can be 
conveniently secured. 
Third, the seedbed. Make it fine and firm. Too 
much care can hardly be taken here, as it is not so 
easy to get small seeds to germinate as in the spring. 
Plow some time before seeding. Harrow, roll, har- 
row again, work the land down to a fine firm seed- 
bed, absolutely free from weeds. Then sow the seed. 
Differing from spring seeding, no nurse-crop is here 
admissible. One need not use more than 20 pounds 
of seed to the acre. Sow it in any manner con- 
venient and cover it an inch or a little less. Here 
comes in play a new machine, very successful for its 
purpose, the alfalfa drill. Several types are on the 
market. They are made with small disks that open 
tiny furrows for the seed and that cover it evenly 
and nicely. Any amount of seed desired may be 
sown. One can get a good stand with far less seed 
if he uses the drill than if he does not. I have seen 
stands almost too thick when only 5 pounds per acre 
of seed was used. Make the land very smooth for 
the drill. 
Fourth, the fertilization. Phosphorus always suits 
alfalfa. Add to the bonemeal or acid phosphate 
or basic slag, whichever is chosen, 50 to 100 pounds 
of nitrate of soda per acre. Do this unless you are 
sure that the land is rich enough to start the alfalfa 
off rapidly. It takes a little time for young alfalfa 
to get its bacteria to work at gathering nitrogen. 
The nitrate of soda comes in here as a splendid aid 
