250 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



as usual. The crop this year has exceeded anticipations. 

 The check strip, to which no lime whatever has been ap- 

 plied, but upon which nitro-cultures were used, carries 

 no crop. It will be disked after the third cutting of alfalfa 

 this year, well limed and again seeded. 



GEORGIA. 



Prof. R, J. Redding, 'Director Georgia experiment 

 station. — This station has successfully cultivated alfalfa 

 for 12 years, and we have never found it necessary to 

 inoculate when we have sown the seed on rich, well pre- 

 pared land. The plants at once became supplied with 

 nitrogen tubercles and grew as luxuriantly as might be 

 expected from the quality of the land. Our practice is to 

 fertilize annually in January or February by sowing from 

 800 to 1000 pounds of acid phosphate and one-fourth as 

 much muriate of potash per acre. We run a cutaway 

 harrow over the alfalfa two or three times in different 

 directions. We then use a smoothing harrow and finally 

 a heavy roller. This puts the land in good shape for the 

 mowing machine and at the same time destroys weeds 

 that come up during the fall and early winter, I believe 

 that it is not desirable to continue land In alfalfa more 

 than six or eight years, because of the impossibility of pre- 

 venting infestation of weeds to such extent as to very 

 greatly diminish the yield of alfalfa. We have a plot 

 growing, that was sown about April 10, which seems to 

 be as favorable a time as any, provided there shall be one 

 or two good rains to give the young plants a start. The 

 main factors In success are : First, a deep, well-prepared 

 and well-drained soil, made very rich ; and second, good 

 seed, carefully sow^n and repeated mowings at the proper 

 time. 



