American Grown Alfalfa Seed 
ABOUT PRICES—The prices of Clovers and Grasses are changing constantly, and were we to quote definite prices on large 
quantities in this catalogue they would probably be incorrect before we received your order. Send us a post card and immediately 
upon receipt of it we will send you our regular quotation card quoting the lowest prevailing prices, which we will guarantee 
for a stated period. 
All Prices on This Page Post Paid. See Yellow Price List Enclosed for Quantity Prices. 
Alfalfa is a perennial legume belonging to the same family as peas, 
beans, and clover. 
The best soils on the farm should be selected for the alfalfa field. It is 
practically useless to attempt to grow the crop on non-productive lands 
to improve them. 
It is best to precede alfalfa for a year or two with some cultivated 
crop, such as corn, potatoes, or cotton, to free the land from weeds. The 
ideal seed bed is a well-settled sub-surface with a fine surface that is 
loose to a depth of 2 inches. 
Alfalfa should be sown early enough to permit the plants to become 
well established before winter sets in. The rate of sowing depends upon 
the condition of the soil. In the South, 20 to 25 pounds per acre is gen¬ 
erally advised. Except under very favorable conditions, alfalfa should be 
sown without a nurse crop. Attempts to thicken up thin stands by re¬ 
sowing or other means nearly always result in failure. 
Alfalfa should be cut for hay when the plants are well in bloom. 
Alfalfa hay and pasture are readily eaten by all classes of farm animals. 
PURCHASING SEED 
Before buying alfalfa seed there are three points upon which the pur¬ 
chaser should have information: The name of the variety, the section of 
the country in which it was produced, and the quality of the seed with 
regard both to germination and purity. It is important, therefore, that 
dealings be had only with thoroughly reliable and intelligent seedsmen. 
The viability of the seed, or its ability to germinate, is quite clearly 
indicated in its appearance. Plump seeds of a bright olive-green color 
almost invariably germinate well, while shriveled seeds or seeds that are 
of a brownish color usually germinate poorly. 
CHOOSING A FIELD FOR ALFALFA 
In selecting land for alfalfa, careful consideration should be given to 
the texture of the soil, its productivity, and drainage. Where possible, 
very sandy or very compact soils should be avoided. 
PREPARATION FOR ALFALFA 
The Preceding Crop 
Alfalfa may be successfully grown after almost any crop, provided 
proper attention is given to the preparation of the soil after the pre¬ 
ceding crop has been removed. In deciding upon the preceding crop, how¬ 
ever, one should be chosen that fits best into the particular system of 
farming and at the same time leaves the land in good condition for alfalfa. 
PREPARING THE SEED BED 
The tender nature of the young alfalfa plants requires that the soil be 
in excellent tilth at sowing time. Many of the failures to secure a good 
stand may be traced directly to a poorly prepared seed bed. 
LIMING 
No other of our commonly grown forage crops requires so much lime 
as does alfalfa. It is necessary not only to have enough to neutralize the 
soil, but also an excess for the actual use of the plant. 
METHOD OF SOWING ALFALFA 
The method of sowing varies considerably in different sections. It may 
be done with a grain drill with a seeder attachment, or with an alfalfa 
drill, or the seed may be broadcsted with a hand seeder, or by hand and 
covered with a light harrow, a weeder, or a brush drag. 
MAKING ALFALFA HAY 
Most of the alfalfa grown in this country is cut for hay. The number 
of cuttings obtained depends upon climatic conditions, the soil, and the 
variety, and varies from eight or sometimes more in the far Southwest 
to two and sometimes only one in the North and semi-arid sections. From 
30 to 40 days are required to produce a hay crop. 
CULTIVATING ALFALFA 
Cultivation will help to keep out weeds and grass, that in some 
places crowd out alfalfa. Blue grass and weeds like crab grass, chick 
weed and horse-nettle can be kept out of alfalfa by cultivation. 
The time to kill grass or weeds in alfalfa is while the grass and 
weeds are few and small. Don’t wait until there is a sod of grass 
in the alfalfa before starting to cultivate ; then it's almost impossible 
to kill out the grass and weeds. 
In some places cultivation of alfalfa may not pay for the labor. 
When the soil is rich and suitable for growing alfalfa, and the alfalfa 
is not cut too early or often or pastured too close, the alfalfa will 
usually hold its own for several years without cultivation. 
It may be a good thing that other grasses crowd out alfalfa, so that 
the alfalfa must be plowed and the field rotated with some other crop. 
When any crop grows too long on one field, diseases of that crop are 
apt to develop. 
A spring tooth implement is best to cultivate alfalfa. The teeth 
“drag” through the alfalfa, dodging around the alfalfa roots and tear¬ 
ing out the grass and weeds. 
The time to cultivate alfalfa depends on when it will do the most 
good. Some growers cultivate in early spring; others just after the 
first cutting. It is doubtful whether more than one or two cultivations 
yearly will pay anywhere. Don’t cultivate when the soil is wet. Some¬ 
times it may be good practice to run a drag harrow after the spring 
tooth harrow to help smooth the field and break up chunks of soil that 
might be torn up by the spring tooth tool. 
1049— HARDY NORTHWESTERN—So called for it comes from 
those states like Utah, Idaho and others where the winters 
are very cold, therefore producing very hardy strains of 
alfalfa. 
1 lb., 45c; 5 lbs., $1.65; 10 lbs., $3.00; 15 lbs., $5.00; 25 lbs., $6.50 
1050— BUCK BRAND ALFALFA—Grown for us in the State 
of Kansas, and during our 35 years in the seed business we 
have shipped this seed to every Southern State. Our annual 
sales now amount to 30 to 40 thousand pounds each year, 
and after 35 years’ experience we call it the best upland 
American-grown alfalfa seed. 
1 lb., 35c; 5 lbs., $1.50; 10 lbs., $2.75; 15 lbs., $3.75; 25 lbs., $5.75 
1051— DAKOTA No. 12 ALFALFA—This variety is the result 
of years of careful breeding and represents the highest type 
of alfalfas. Dakota produces exceptionally hardy alfalfa, 
practically immune to winter killing. Stands drouth and heat 
as well. Highly recommended by Mississippi Experiment 
Station at Stoneville. 
1 lb., 45c; 5 lbs., $1.65; 10 lbs., $3.00; 15 lbs., $5.00; 25 lbs., $6.50 
1052— PERUVIAN ALFALFA is the least hardy and most rapid 
growing of our commercial varieties. It was first introduced 
into the LTnited States from Peru in 1899. It seldom survives 
the winters where the temperature falls below 10° F., and 
is therefore suited only to the extreme South and Southwest. 
Where it survives the winters, Peruvian Alfalfa gives some¬ 
what larger yields than most other varieties. 
1 lb., 35c; 5 lbs., $1.50; 10 lbs., $2.75; 15 lbs., $3.75; 25 lbs., $5.75 
1067—HARDY UTAH—Often known as mile high alfalfa, be¬ 
cause these seed are produced in the mountain valleys of 
Utah, more than 5,000 feet above sea level. In the mountains 
of Utah where this seed is grown the severe night tempera¬ 
tures often drop 35 degrees below the day temperatures. 
This seed, we believe, will stand more cold without winter 
killing than any alfalfa grown. 
1 lb., 40c; 5 lbs., $1.65; 10 lbs., $2.90; 15 lbs., $4.25; 25 lbs., $6.00 
BEEHIVE ALFALFA—Grown a mile high, at an altitude of 
5,000 to 6,000 feet, where winter stays late and fall freezes 
come early, where the growing season is the shortest of any 
area in the United States. 
Beehive Alfalfa is sacked in sealed bags to facilitate sale 
by the dealer and for the protection of the buyer. The hardi¬ 
ness of Beehive is field-bred through years of adverse cli¬ 
matic conditions. 
1 lb., 45c; 5 lbs.. $1.65; 10 lbs.. $3.00; 15 lbs., $5.00; 25 lbs., $6.50 
QUANTITY PRICES—On all seeds, see yellow price list in center of book 
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