a 
nd deepest rooting \ 
Forage Phe 
| The_ gre 
far knonn.| 
———— 
Se ee 
Be, Pk rs ig 
OPYRIGHT?18ee.BY..P 
eer = 
~ ALFALFA. (Medicago Sativa.) 
(i There is no plant which can be fed green or cured into hay 
that is deserving of wider cultivation than Alfalfa, and there is 
no state in the Union where itcannot be successfully cultivated. 
DEEP ROOTING.—Its drouth resisting qualities are re- 
markable, rendered so by the wonderful roct formation, THE 
ROOTS GOING DOWN DEEPER THAN ANY OTHER 
PLANT, eight to twelve feet being usual, and a depth of thirty 
feet has been reported. The photograph, showing a caved cff 
embankment, gives a gocd idea of the remarkable roots. This 
deep rooting quality enables it to reach and utilize fertilizer 
that has leached beyond the reach of all other plants. 
LIME NECES&SARY.— One of the essentials for its sue- 
Cess is LIME in scme foim, either in the soil or subsoil, and if 
dime or marl is present, profitable crops mey Le expected. 
Wherefore, if it is known that there is no lime in the ¢cil, it 
6hould be applied as a top dressing when the land is being 
plowed preparatory to sowing the seed. 
GOOD DRAINAGE is necessary, for an excess of surface 
frater soon rots the roots and under these conditions the plants 
seldom live longer than one or two years, though exccllent 
results have been obtained on clay soils, provided always that 
lime is in the soil or subsoil, either naturally or applied. 
VIELD.—When fully established it yields as much as eight 
to twelve and sometimes as high as sixteen tons of cured hay 
per acre at three to four cuttings each year. The hay is palat 
able and very nutritious. 
By the New Jersey Experiment Station and other competent 
authorities the feeding value of the hay is placed at $20 co as 
compared with Timothy at $12.co per ton. Asa soiling plant 
for cutting and feeding green during the summer, it is of the 
utmost value on all dairy farms, as it is ready for first cutting 
about the time for planting Corn and about as early as green 
Rye can be cut, and is ready for cutting about every six weeks 
thereafter. Alfalfa should be cut every time it begins 
to blossom, whether the growth is short or tall, for if 
allowed to form seed, it shortens the life of the plant. 
Owing to slow growth the first season, almost the entire growth 
going to roots, the land should be clean and free from weeds, 
and it is, therefore, best to follow Potatoes, Corn or some other 
crop that has been thoroughly hoed and kept free from weeds. 
TIME OF SOWING.—The best time to sow in this sec- 
tion is in April, and if the land is thoroughly clean and tree 
from weeds, it may be sown broadcast, using 20 to 25 lbs. per 
acre, and such weeds as appear kept down by the mowing 
machine with the cutter bar raised so as to avoid cutting near 
the crowns of the young plants. But, even under the most 
favorable conditions the better plan is to drill the seed in rows 16 
inches to 2 feet apart at the rate of 15 to 20 lbs., per acre. AS 
soon as the young plants are high enough to mark the rows, 
cultivation should begin, and if the soil is kept clean and mel- 
low by frequent stirrings, the Alfalfa if cut often and not 
allowed to go to seed, will after the first year cover the ground 
and easily keep ahead of all weeds. 15 cts. Ib.; $8.00 
bushel of 60 Ibs.; $13.00 per roo Ibs. 
