224 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



conditions, yet wherever the most approved methods were fol- 

 lowed, without exception, excellent stands were secured and the 

 yields thus far this season have been very satisfactory. While 

 the results of these tests, together with other alfalfa investiga- 

 tions are reported in a bulletin soon to be issued by the station, 

 they may be briefly stated here for the benefit of those who con- 

 template putting in alfalfa this fall. 



Soil. 



Because of the large and very rapid growth made by the 

 alfalfa plant, it is essential that it shall have a large supply of 

 readily available fertility. It is necessary therefore that alfalfa 

 should be seeded on soil rather above the average for the best 

 results. Much good corn land when properly handled, will grow 

 alfalfa successfully, providing that it is well drained and sweet. 



Drainage. 



It is useless and unwise to attempt to grow alfalfa on land 

 which is not thoroughly well drained, either naturally or by the 

 use of tile or ditches. Some of the best results have been se- 

 cured on bottom lands as these are likely to be quite fertile, but 

 no matter how much available fertility is present, an attempt 

 to grow alfalfa without good drainage is almost sure to result 

 in failure. 



Many fertile upland soils are not suitable for alfalfa grow- 

 ing owing to the presence, too near the surface, of a compact, 

 tenacious subsoil so impervious to water as to prevent proper 

 drainage. 



Manure. 



While good stands and yields of alfalfa have frequently been 

 secured on fertile soils without the aid of manure, yet these 

 yields are in almost every case largely increased by it. On soils 

 which are only medium in fertility, manure is essential to suc- 

 cess, and on soils below the average in fertility, successful stands 



