SUMMARY OF ALFALFA SOWING. 497 
grow. Naturally the lime soils are far richer than 
the soil in Georgia. Drainage made the difference. 
The black lime soils are very similar to our best 
black soils of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois; they need 
underdrainage with tiles fully as much as did our 
soils. Happily, as I write, ditching machines are 
beginning the work. There seems no physical ob- 
stacle to drainage. It is easier than it was in Ohio; 
the fall is ample, and outlets are good asarule. I 
also have an idea that these black soils, where they 
have grown continuous crops of corn and cotton, in 
some instances for eighty years, must be depleted in 
their phosphorus content, at least in the available 
phosphorus. JI am undertaking to learn by exper- 
iment if this is not true. Till the present time 
no fertilization whatever has ever been given them. 
They respond marvelously to stable manures we 
know, but manures are always in limited supply on 
plantations. 
Spring seeding is almost universally practiced in 
the black soils, for the reason given that the lands 
are wet and may through frost lift the young plants 
in winter. After underdrainage fall seeding can be 
practiced and I think with perfect success and far 
greater freedom from crabgrass. 
Making Alfalfa Hay in the Prairie Lands Many 
alfalfa-growers here make their hay very cheaply. 
It is their practice to let hay dry quite thoroughly 
before raking. They are not strenuous to save all 
the leaves, for the hay is going to a market that does 
not highly regard alfalfa leaves. Sweep rakes gather 
