2/0 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



is not adapted to our soils, liming, manuring or drainage 

 being necessary to prepare such for the crop. If sown on 

 upland soils that have never grown alfalfa or Sweet 

 clover, it is benefited by inoculation. On bottom land? 

 or lands that are very fertile, inoculation has little or no 

 eifect. The surest and often the simplest means of inocu- 

 lation is by means of inoculated soil. The cultures pre- 

 pared for seed inoculation have in many cases given ex- 

 cellent results, but they are still in the experimental stage 

 and some skill is required to handle them properly. The 

 best preparation of the seedbed is that which allows of an 

 early plowing and the use of a harrow every time a crust 

 forms or weeds start before time to sow the seed. The 

 seedbed should be much like that for wheat — ^loose above 

 but firm below. The best time to sow in this state Is be- 

 tween the middle of August and the middle of Sept-ember, 

 the last week in August usually giving best results. The 

 amount of seed to sow Is between 15 and 20 pounds, de- 

 pending upon the quality and the character of the soil. 

 It is best sown without a nurse crop. It must be clipped 

 frequently the first and sometimes the second season, espe- 

 cially on soils to which it is not well adapted. It should 

 usually be cut when the lower leaves begin to turn yellow. 



MONTANA. 



'Alfred Rasicot, Deer Lodge county. — ^Alfalfa is the 

 most valuable crop that is raised in Idaho or Utah for 

 hay, growing on any kind of land butnhat which is low 

 and wet, yielding five to seven tons of hay to the acre, 

 and providing excellent feed for all kinds of farm ani- 

 mals. For about 20 years I have grown from 20 to 50 



