I 



THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION. 255 



In 1907 the Experiment Station, co-operating with farmers 

 throughout the state, started a number of alfalfa experiments 

 with the idea of determining the best methods of securing a 

 stand. Some very interesting results have been obtained and in 

 many cases the problem of securing a stand has been practically 

 solved. From the results of these experiments the following 

 recommendations for seeding alfalfa may be given : 



Soil. 



Alfalfa thrives best on a deep rich, loose and well drained 

 soil. It takes good land to grow it without considerable care. 

 Well drained creek and river bottoms as well as all well drained, 

 rich uplands, especially those containing plenty of lime, grow it 

 readily where properly handled. For the small farmer who 

 wishes to grow only a few acres, an old feed lot will usually be 

 found to be an ideal place for seeding. For average to thin lands, 

 much care is necessary to secure a stand and to keep the grasses 

 and weeds from taking it. On such lands it is useless to sow 

 alfalfa without the liberal use of stable manure but where this 

 is applied at the rate of 12 to 15 tons per acre to well drained 

 soil, it can usually be grown. It is practically useless to attempt 

 to grow alfalfa on the flat prairie soils which are poorly drained. 



Inoculation. 



Inoculation on all uplands that have never grown alfalfa, is 

 generally of much benefit and usually necessary to success. This 

 is especially true on regions where sweet clover does not grow. 

 Where sweet clover grows commonly, the land is usually inocu- 

 lated for alfalfa since this plant has the same bacteria on its 

 roots as alfalfa. Bottom lands which overflow never need in- 

 oculating. Inoculation is best accomplished by scattering two or 

 three hundred pounds per acre of soil from a field where alfalfa 

 has been grown successfully and harrowing it in immediately. 

 This soil should be applied directly ahead of the harrow and not 

 allowed to lie exposed to the sun light for any length of time 

 since light will kill the bacteria. Soil for inoculation may also be 



