SOIL AND SEEDING 49 



no crop which leaves the soil in finer physical condition 

 for alfalfa-sowing than millet, and none that is more 

 unsatisfactory for a like purpose than sorghum or Kafir 

 corn that was planted in hills or rows. 



In some states a clover sod is plowed under for alfalfa. 

 If this is for a spring sowing, the sod should be plowed 

 in September or October, disked or harrowed, and not 

 infrequently a light sowing of rye for winter pasture is 

 feasible. Then in early spring the land may be put in 

 order with disk and tooth harrows. It is excellent if a 

 liberal application of rotted stable manure is plowed 

 under with the clover sod. 



FAI/Ii SOWING. 



Fall seeding presents fewer difficulties than spi*ing sow- 

 ing. Corn is not the preceding crop and hence the weed 

 problem is not so formidable. Usually a fall sowing fol- 

 lows millet or oats, cowpeas or potatoes. Almost any 

 crop except the sorghums may be grown to precede 

 alfalfa for a fall sowing; these should not be as they con- 

 sume too much moisture. The land should have, if pos- 

 sible, a dressing of stable manure the preceding winter; 

 then in the spring be plowed deep and worked to a fine 

 tilth for the summer crop. South of the latitude of forty 

 degrees cowpeas is one of the best. They are legumes, 

 and the bacteria that live on their roots are similar to 

 those upon the alfalfa roots; they are also nitrogen- 

 gatherers, taking nitrogen from the air as does the 

 alfalfa, and thus they prepare the soil for alfalfa. 

 Besides, cowpeas are a valuable forage, the hay being 

 worth almost as much, pound for pound, as that of 



