488 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 
grass, which after it becomes established produces 
much more luxuriantly than ever before. As there 
are thousands of good farmers on this soil type it is 
worth while for them to try to establish alfalfa. 
I suggest taking advantage of the fact that grass 
seeds do not live very long in the soil. Let the field 
be enriched well, giving what underdrainage it 
needs, and plant it to corn or tobacco. Keep the 
crop absolutely clean of crabgrass during the entire 
summer and fall. In winter plow as deeply as pos- 
sible so as to throw up a fresh soil to the surface. 
Half the lime should be turned under at this plow- 
ing, half applied afterward. Sow the alfalfa early, 
according to the season, but usually in March, as 
soon as danger of very hard freezes is over. Fer- 
tilize it heavily and do not omit the 80 pounds to the 
acre of nitrate of soda. Thus we will get a strong 
quick growth and a root strong enough to admit of 
harrowing, should crabgrass come in midsummer. I 
should test here the use of half a bushel of winter 
rye to the acre, sown out of season with the alfalfa, 
but I should sow half the field with no nurse-crop 
whatever, assuming that the preceding year’s use 
of the land has been as described. Very thorough 
inoculation is a great lielp in making the alfalfa 
start off vigorously, thus getting ahead of weeds and 
grasses. One would not dare to sow alfalfa in this 
mid-southern region during May or June. At that 
time weeds start so fast that I should fear they 
would overtake the alfalfa. 
Handling Spring-Sown Alfalfa—Allow the 
