306 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



stroy weeds, the worst enemy of alfalfa during the early 

 stages of its growth. Alfalfa may be seeded either fall 

 or spring. When fall sown it can be cut for hay the next 

 summer, whereas, the spring sown crop should be clipped 

 several times during the first season and left to mulch the 

 ground. Alfalfa seed is sometimes infested with dodder, 

 which grows as a parasite on the plant. The orange- 

 yellow threadlike appearance of dodder gives warning of 

 its presence, and it can be easily destroyed by cutting and 

 burning if taken at the outset. Alfalfa is frequently at- 

 tacked by leaf spot in the eastern states. The disease is 

 easily recognized, as its name indicates, and persistent 

 clipping will generally eradicate it. The amount of seed 

 to sow varies, but 20 pounds will answer as a rule. Al- 

 falfa should be cut for hay when coming into bloom, as 

 it yields more nutrients per acre at that time, and succeed- 

 ing crops yield better. Alfalfa is not more difficult to make 

 into hay than is Red clover. It may also be pastured 

 to advantage, though there is some danger of bloat, and, 

 owing to the high feeding value of the hay, it is doubtful 

 whether it would be good practice to graze it in the East, 

 except with hogs. Alfalfa being a legume has the power 

 of assimilating atmospheric nitrogen under certain con- 

 ditions. It is thus a soil improver. Farmers cannot af- 

 ford to purchase nitrogen when they can gather it from 

 the air through the action of leguminous plants. Alfalfa 

 often fails, even though all the physical conditions seem 

 favorable, because the bacteria which live in the nodules 

 on its roots are not present in the soil. This deficiency 

 may be supplied by getting soil from an old alfalfa field 

 or from fields where Sweet clover or Bur clover pre- 



