FOEAGE CROPS FOE THE SAND-HILL SECTION OF NEBRASKA. 19 



drought continues until after the middle of July, to carry the seed 

 over until the following year. It avails little to put the seed in the 

 ground at any time of the year when conditions are not favorable 

 for its germination and continued growth. 



Should the spring come on early and conditions be such at the 

 middle of May as usually obtain at the middle of June, then it is 

 well to sow the seed at that time, securing a stronger root system and 

 larger top growth for protection during the winter. 



RATE OF SEEDING. 



The mortality among the young plants on sandy soil is very high, 

 owing to the fact that the surface of the soil becomes extremely hot 

 and many plants are wilted and burned off before the third leaf is 

 formed. Such wholesale destruction of the young seedlings means 

 that an oversupply of seed must be used. From 9 to 12 pounds of 

 good seed should be ample, but on account of the conditions just 

 mentioned it is usually best to sow 1G to 20 pounds per acre. If 

 conditions are favorable and too thick a stand is secured, it can be 

 thinned out much easier than a poor stand can be patched up. If 

 the ground is too fully occupied by the young plants, a good harrow- 

 ing or a light disking when the plants are only 3 or 4 inches high will 

 not only reduce the number of plants but will leave the surface of the 

 soil in good condition to retain the moisture. 



PREPARATION OF SEED BED. 



Wherever possible, ground that has been cropped to corn or 

 potatoes the preceding year should be used for alfalfa. Such ground 

 is best on account of its freedom from weeds and the firm seed bed it 

 affords the alfalfa. The addition of manure to the soil several years 

 in advance of its use for alfalfa is very beneficial, but manure should 

 never be plowed under at the time of seeding, as it cuts off capillary 

 action from below and generally leaves the upper soil loose and very 

 dry, the rain water passing through rapidly but never returning 

 past the layer of manure to benefit the young plants. 



If corn or potato ground is used, it should be disked in the spring 

 as soon as the first crop of weeds starts, then allowed to lie in a 

 rough condition until a second crop germinates, when this can be 

 killed by another disking or harrowing. It is advisable to kill out 

 the weeds thoroughly before seeding, and this may require the third 

 disking. If the soil is inclined to blow after such treatment, it may 

 be better to give but one working. It will be found, though, that if 

 the ground is disked crosswise to the direction of the prevailing 

 winds the trouble from blowing will be less than if the ground were 

 allowed to lie smooth and hard. 



[Cir. 80] 



