258 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



In this case, it will be necessary for the weeds to be mowed 

 down two or three times during the summer, so that the 

 alfalfa will not be choked out. It is better to sow in the 

 spring than late in the fall. Late summer seeding is 

 the best. The following year it will be freer from weeds 

 and have a better stand than that which was sown the 

 spring before. Cornstalk ground which was well ma- 

 nured the year before for corn is generally used for spring 

 seeding. The stalks should first be removed. The field 

 may then be thoroughly disked and harrowed. The 

 seed should be sown about the middle of April. 



C. D. Perry, Clark county. — In 1887, I sowed 200 

 acres of alfalfa, and now have 270 acres. This is nearly 

 all on second bottom land, with black, sandy loam, black 

 sand, and gumbo. The land is largely "made" land, 

 about 6 to 12 feet of good soil, with gumbo only on 

 top for 12 or 14 inches. On the heavy land the dry soil 

 begins at the top, and, at the breaking of the sod, extended 

 down eight or nine feet. Water is found at a depth of 12 

 to 21 feet. We irrigate most of our crop from the Cimar- 

 ron river. The first time the land is watered it takes from 

 two to five times as much water as is required later, and 

 now we find the best results are obtained by watering 

 about 10 days before cutting, using three or four inches 

 of water. There is no damage by frost, except on low, 

 wet land. Without irrigation, I should double plow the 

 ground before seeding, having one plow follow the other 

 in the same furrow, and going as deep as possible. Seed 

 by drilling one-half to one inch deep, 10 pounds to the 



