SUMMARY OF ALPALFA SOWING. 511 
growing alfalfa. One can afford to be liberal in his 
purchases of phosphorus when this is the one ele- 
ment that he must buy. We have had no difficulty 
in growing corn on alfalfa sod to a maximum yield 
of more than 100 bushels of shelled corn per acre 
over a 50-acre block, which nearly satisfies us that 
we are on the right road. 
Potash for Alfalfa.—On Woodland Farm are cer- 
tain low spots, once pond bottoms, with black soil 
and appearing rich, that are so deficient in potas- 
sium that they have refused to grow corn or alfalfa 
without potash. This substance works a miracle on 
these spots and makes corn ear splendidly and al- 
falfa show fine thrift. We use commonly muriate 
of potash, once in three or four years, at the rate of 
200 pounds to the acre. On our clay soils we note 
no need of this compound. Each man must experi- 
ment for himself in order to know what his own 
soil type lacks; nearly always it will be phosphorus, 
occasionally potassium and usually nitrogen as well. 
Weeds, Foxtail, Crabgrass and the Alfalfa Har- 
row.—F oxtail will come in alfalfa meadows despite 
all one’s care. It may do little harm; it may seri- 
ously choke the alfalfa. Crabgrass comes less often, 
and is worse when it comes. Of weeds only a few 
trouble; the broad-leaved plantain is one of the most 
common. Usually it is a sign of needed underdrain- 
age. We have tested nearly all modes of harrowing 
alfalfa to rid it of grass. The disc is the most com- 
mon implement. We found it efficient enough but it 
decreased the vield of the alfalfa in some instances 
