EXPERIMENTS WITH ALFALFA. 29 



inches apart, were cultivated by hand, and plot 45, drilled 6 inches 

 apart, was cultivated by harrowing. The results show that there is 

 little difference in the yield under the different treatments, and that 

 there is no advantage in planting alfalfa in rows and cultivating it, 

 at least under the conditions at the Nebraska Station. The individual 

 plants tend to grow larger and the stems fall over, filling the space 

 between the rows. As the larger crowns with age tend to rise above 

 the soil, the mowing becomes more difficult and there is more loss of 

 foliage than when the seed is sown thickly. It is quite possible that 

 in the drier portion of the State the moisture could be conserved by 

 cultivation and a crop produced when under ordinary methods there 

 would be failure. On the other hand, the extra expense of such treat- 

 ment is likely to more than offset any such advantage. In the Southern 

 States alfalfa is frequently raised in rows and cultivated, as it can thus 

 be more easily kept free from weeds; but such methods are used only 

 on a small scale. 



The treatment of plots with fertilizer showed no marked advan- 

 tageous effect. Plots 46 to 49 were treated respectively with fertilizer 

 at the following rate per acre: One ton gypsum, 1 ton lime cake, 2 

 tons lime cake, 3 tons hog manure. 



In order to determine the effect of using heavy or light seed, com- 

 mon alfalfa seed was separated by a grain grader into approximately 

 equal parts of heavy and light weight. This was sown by drilling in 

 1902. On June 23, 1903, a cutting was made from each plot. The 

 light seed yielded at the rate of 2,500 pounds per acre, and the heavy 

 seed at the rate of 3,000 pounds per acre. The notes made at the 

 time show that both plots were weedy the first year, but the second 

 year there was a much thinner stand in the plot from light seeds. 



To test the effect of seeding at different times plots of common and 

 Turkestan alfalfa were sown by drilling and by broadcasting from 

 spring till fall, in 1902, on the following dates: March 10, March 24, 

 April 8, April 21, May 7, May 19, August 7, August 19, September 

 15, October 1, October 21. On account of lack of seed the experiment 

 with Turkestan alfalfa was discontinued after August 19. The plots of 

 this variety showed a good stand in almost every case and no injury 

 during the succeeding winter. 



The sowings of common alfalfa during March, April, and on May 7 

 gave a fair to good stand, but were all seriously injured the following 

 winter. Later sowings gave good results and not much injury from 

 winter killing except that the sowing of October 21 was a failure, as 

 the plants did not reach a sufficient size to withstand the winter. It 

 was also observed that of the fall-sown plots those sown broadcast 

 gave a much better stand than those that were drilled. (See PL III, 

 %• 2.) 



These experiments, as well as the experience of alfalfa growers, 



