BUCHANAN’S AMERICAN GROWN ALFALFA SEED 
ALFALFA IN BLOOM 
See descriptions, several varieties, Page 58 
ALFALFA WILL PRODUCE MORE CHOICE FEED 
PER ACRE THAN WILL ANY OTHER CROP 
Three tons of dry alfalfa hay per acre is a fair yearly yield 
in regions of light rainfall and short growing season. 
The yield should be more than three tons per acre where 
there is abundant rainfall and a long growing season. 
Alfalfa and corn fed together make a good ration for all 
live stock — Alfalfa belongs on every farm—for hog pasture; 
hay for the dairy herd, family cow or chickens. For sheep 
and beef cattle, no other roughage is equal to alfalfa hay. 
When comparing alfalfa with other crops, remember one 
sowing of alfalfa may last five years and it usually doesn't 
have to be cultivated. 
Alfalfa lives several years if not pastured too close. There 
is always a fresh growth coming during the growing season. 
Alfalfa is weakened and its life shortened by pasturing too 
young, too close, or late in the fall or winter. Taking off the 
fall growth exposes alfalfa so it sometimes winter-kills. Better 
not pasture alfalfa the same year it is sowed. 
Chickens like alfalfa pasture. Unless they have consider¬ 
able range the chickens will keep the alfalfa so closely cropped 
that new shoots have but little chance to grow. When alfalfa 
is used for chicken pasture, have plenty of it so it will last 
longer. 
Finely cut, steamed alfalfa hay with plenty of leaves is a 
choice feed to add variety to the winter ration for laying hens. 
Finely cut alfalfa hay makes good litter for brooder houses. 
Mouldy alfalfa is not good for either poultry feed or litter. 
Alfalfa is a perennial legume belonging to the same family 
as peas, beans, and clover, it is also the oldest forage plant 
known. 
The best soils on the farm should be selected for 
the alfalfa field. It is practically useless to at¬ 
tempt to grow the crop on non-productive lands. 
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, 25 to 35 pounds 
per acre is generally advised. Except under very 
favorable conditions, alfalfa should be sown without 
a nurse crop. Attempts to thicken up thin stands 
by resowing 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 purchaser 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 germi¬ 
nate, 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 germinate poorly. 
CHOOSING A FIELD FOR ALFALFA 
In selecting land for alfalfa, careful consideration 
should be given to the texture of the soil, its pro¬ 
ductivity, and drainage. Where possible, very 
sandy or very compact soils should be avoided. 
PREPARATION FOR ALFALFA 
Alfalfa may be successfully grown after almost 
any crop, provided proper attention is given to the 
preparation of the soil after the preceding crop has 
been removed. In deciding upon the preceding 
crop, however, one should be chosen that fits best 
into the particular system of farming and at the 
same time leaves the land in good condition. 
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 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 broadcasted with a hand 
seeder, or by hand and covered with a light harrow, 
a weeder, or a brush drag. 
Alfalfa is the only forage plant known which will 
send down its roots to moisture during a severe 
drouth like the one of 1934. 
Alfalfa is the only forage plant that held its green 
color and survived the 1934 drouth of the north¬ 
west — the most disastrous drouth ever known in 
this country. 
.. Roots of the 
alfalfa plant . . . 
frequently are 
found to have 
penetrated the 
soil fifteen feet 
or more.” 
