32 bulletin 90. 
Howell sowed five acres to alfalfa in 1902 with the same results 
as were obtained in Idalia. 
I11 1897 one half an acre of alfalfa was sown at the Plains 
substation at Cheyenne Wells and a good stand was obtained. 
The weeds were kept mown down that year. I11 1898 one half a 
ron was cut from the plat at one cutting. The grasshoppers took 
the other cuttings. In 1899 the plat was mown once for hay, 
yielding about one-fourth of a ton. The grasshoppers killed 
many plants and the Russian thistles took the place of alfalfa. 
In 1899, 1900 and 1901 there were fewer alfalfa plants left each 
year and 110 hay crop was cut either of those years. By 1901 
there were so few alfalfa plants left that the land was planted to 
another crop. 
Again in 1899 four acres were seeded to alfalfa May 20th. 
A good stand was obtained, but during the hot summer weather 
that 011 the higher land died. About one acre 011 low land which 
was occasionally overflowed by water drained from the prairie 
across it continued to grow well. In 1900 this part yielded one 
cutting at the rate of one ton per acre. Grasshoppers gradually 
killed this patch out until in the spring of 1903 so little was left 
that it was plowed up and the ground planted to other crops. 
Planting . The important factor in getting a stand of alfalfa 
is getting a good seed bed for it. My experience has taught me 
to plow the ground early in the season five to eight inches deep, 
harrow until it is thorougely packed and then wait until the 
ground is thoroughly wet before planting the seed. If this occurs 
before the middle of July go on the ground with a light drag har¬ 
row as soon after the rain as the surface appears to be dry and 
break the crust thoroughly. Then sow the seed broadcast and 
follow with the harrow. A good stand has been obtained every 
time I have followed this rule, but if a drill is available the same 
rule should be followed except that the seed should be drilled in 
as soon as the ground shows dry on top. Some have been suc¬ 
cessful with the hoe drill and some have used the press drill. 
One man seeded his alfalfa with a lister, taking off the shares and 
running the seed in behind the subsoiler part of the machine. 
The time to sow alfalfa may be any time when the ground is in 
good condition between the 10th of May and the 15th of July. 
Having a stand of alfalfa the next question is how shall it be 
maintained against its enemies, the drought and the grasshoppers? 
It has been demonstrated in western Kansas that thoroughly disc¬ 
ing the alfalfa field usually increases the yield of hay, while it 
also prevents the deposit of grasshopper eggs in the field. 
Enemies. Drought is one of the worst enemies of alfalfa 
without irrigation, but this may be overcome to a considerable 
extent by cultivation after the plants are well established, and 
