256 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



dried away from the sun,' sifted and drilled in with an ordinary 

 fertilizer grain drill. Where soil cannot be readily obtained from 

 an old alfalfa field, some taken from roadsides where sweet 

 clover is growing will answer the purpose quite as well. Arti- 

 ficial cultures of these bacteria are now made which the farmer 

 may secure, sprinkle over his seed and inoculate them in this 

 manner. This method of inoculation is still in the experimental 

 stage however, and is not to be recommended except in an ex- 

 perimental way. 



The Use of Lime. 



On a few soils in the state which have a tendency to sour- 

 ness, the use of lime is beneficial in securing a stand of alfalfa 

 and in some cases is necessary to success. To begin with, how- 

 ever, one should use lime experimentally and if possible learn to 

 grow alfalfa on land that does not need lime. Where lime is 

 used it should be applied at the rate of from three to four thous- 

 and pounds per acre in any convenient form except that from 

 gas works which contains injurious compounds. Where only a 

 small area is to be limed the ordinary barrel lime allowed to air 

 slack or water slacked to a powder may be used. The ground 

 limestone is the cheapest form where large amounts are to be 

 applied. This is best applied by means of a lime distributor after 

 plowing and before working the ground down so that the 

 preparation of the seedbed may work the lime into the soil. For 

 a small area however, it will be more feasible to scatter the lime 

 from a wagon box with a shovel by hand. The creek and river 

 bottom soils and most of the fertile uplands in Missouri need no 

 lime. 



Seeding. 



Alfalfa may be sown in the spring on the very fertile lands 

 but for average to thin lands, fall or late summer sowing is much 

 better. From the middle of August to the middle of September 

 is the best time for Central and North Missouri, but in the ex- 

 treme southern part the seeding may frequently be done as late as 

 the first of October. Much depends upon the weather during 



