For the Southern States. 



93 



in about the la^t of July. About the middle of Septetnber or la- 

 ter I have the land plowed, the turn-plow being followed by a 

 deei3 sub-soil plow or scooter. After this the land is fertilized and 

 harrowed until it is thoroughly pulverized and all lumps broken 

 up. The fertilizers employed by me are 500 lbs. liae bone dust 

 (phosphate of lime) and 1000 lbs. cotton-seed hull ashes per acre. 

 These ashes are very r eh in potash and phosphates, containing 

 nearly 45 per cent of the phosphate of lime — the two articles best 

 adapted to the wants of this plant. I sow all my Alfalfa with the 

 Matthew's Seed Drill, in rows lO inches apart. Broad-cast would 

 be preferable, if the land was perfectly free from grass and 

 weeds ; but, as it takes several years of clean culture to put the 

 laud in this condition, sowing in drills is practically the best, ^o 

 seed sower known to me can be compared with the Matthew's 

 Seed Drill. Its work is evenly and regularly done^ and with a 

 rapidity that is astonishing; for it opens the drill to any desired 

 depth, drops the seed, covers and rolls them, and marks the line 

 for the next drill at one operation. It is simple and durable in its 

 structure, and is the greatest labor-saving machine of its kind 

 ever devised for hand-work. 



When my Alfalfa is about three inches high, I work it with the 

 Matthew's Hand Cultivator. First, the front tooth of the culti- 

 vator is taken out, by which means the row is straddled and all 

 the grass cut out close to the plant; then, the front tooth being 

 replaced, the cultivator is passed between the rows, completely 

 cleaning the middles of all foul growth. As often as required to 

 keep down grass, until the Alfiilfa is large enough to cut^ the 

 Matthew's Hand Cultivator is passed between the rows. 



Alfalfa requires three years to reach perfection, but even the 

 first year the yield is larger than most forage plants, and after 

 the second it is enormous. The laud must, however, be made 

 Wc/i at first; a top-dressing every three years is all that will 

 thereafter be required. The seed must be very lightly covered, 

 and should be rolled, or brushed in, if not sowed with a Mat- 

 thew's Seed Sower. 



Whenever the plant is in bloom it must be cut; for, if the seed 

 be left to mature, the stems become hard and woody. Also, 

 whenever it turns yellow, no matter at what ag<>, it most be cut 

 or mowed ; for the yellow color shows the presence of some dis- 

 ease, or the work of some small insect, both of which seem to be 

 remedied by moving promptly. My experience leads me to the 

 conclusion that fully five tons of cured hay per acre may be 

 counted on if proper attention be given to deep plowing, subsoil- 

 ing, fertilizing and cleanliness of the soil. These things are in- 

 dispensable, and without them no one need attempt to cultivate 

 Alfalfa. 



In conclusion, I will remark that I have tried the Lucerne seed 

 imported by you from France, side by side with the Alfalfa seed 

 sent me by Trumbull & Co., of San Francisco, and I can not see 

 the slightest difference in appearance, character, quantity or qual- 

 ity of yield, or hardiness. They are identical ; both have ger- 

 minated equally well, that is to say, perfectly. 



