50 
JOSEPH BRECK & SONS 
(Corporation) 
ALFALFA 
Price* Alfalfa *eed variable; we recommend that you write for special quotation stating quantity required when in the market. 
Alfalfa Field on World’s End Farm, Hingham, Maas. For eight consecutive years this field gave three heavy cuttings a year, 
One of the most successful fields in Eastern Massachusetts. 
ALFALFA, or LUCERNE 
Alfalfa, the greatest known forage crop, is now grown 
successfully in all parts of the world and is steadily gain¬ 
ing favor with the intelligent New England farmer, for 
it is proving to be of the greatest value to him not only 
as a forage crop, but as a soil improver. It is a legume, 
taking free nitrogen from the air and storing it up in the 
deep growing roots. As green fodder or cured hay 
Alfalfa is relished above all other forage crops by stock. 
To grow a good field of Alfalfa, it is important to 
select deep, loamy, well-drained land with loose sub-soil, 
as standing water will soon kill out the young plants. 
Plow and harrow the land thoroughly, and with the first 
harrowing apply at least one ton of Agricultural Lime per 
acre, thereby correcting any acidity in the soil and, what 
is more important, making conditions favorable to the 
activity of nitrogen-gathering bacteria upon the presence 
of w'hich success depends. Continue to harrow the land 
at short intervals for some weeks, thereby thorq^ighly 
pulverizing the top soil and,at the same time working 
out and killing the old grass roots and weeds that would 
otherwise get a quick start and choke out the young Al¬ 
falfa. If possible, give the ground a fair dressing of 
barnyard manure, and a short time before sowing the 
seed harrow in 600 or 800 lbs. per acre of high grade 
commercial fertilizer. Either the seed should he inocu¬ 
lated with Farmogerm before sowing, or soil from an 
old Alfalfa field should be sown broadcast at the rate of 
300 to 500 lbs. per acre. 
It has been found that in this latitude seed sown the 
last of July or early in August will escape being hindered 
by weed growth, and get a good stand before cold 
weather. Sow' broadcast at the rate of 20 lbs. per acre. 
Never cut Alfalfa before buds have appeared close to 
the ground at the crowns of the plants; always judge the 
time to cut by the presence of these basal shoots or buds 
and not by the period of bloom. Do not cut closely the 
first season; cut, allow the plants to wilt, put up in cocks 
and cure in the cock. 
Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis). More suitable 
for turning under than the White variety. A good crop 
with which to prepare land for Alfalfa. Height about 
2 feet. 60 lbs. to the bushel. Price per lb., 40c; per 
100 lbs., $35.00. 
Bokhara (Melilotus alba). Will grow on very poor soils; 
excellent for plowing under as green manure. Valuable 
for bee keepers. 60 lbs. to the bushel. Price per lb.. 
40c; per 100 lbs., $35.00. 
Genuine Grimm Alfalfa 
(Medicago Sativa) 
As a result of extensive trials of numerous varieties of 
Alfalfa, at various Experiment Stations and on many 
farms, in the Northern States, the unanimous conclusion 
is that the Grimm strain is hardier and more productive 
than any other known variety. It originated in northern 
Minnesota from seed brought from the fatherland and 
sown by Ferdinand Grimm, a German farmer. During 
the many years he allow'ed his fields to remain in Alfalfa, 
the more tender plants winter-killed; from those which 
survived he saved seed, little thinking that by natural 
selection he was developing a strain of Alfalfa more valu¬ 
able to the American farmer than any yet discovered. 
Professor Hayes, before being appointed Assistant Secre¬ 
tary of Agriculture, recognizing the superiority of Grimm 
Alfalfa for sections where ordinary varieties fail, took 
measures to have the Grimm strain kept pure and to have 
it tested in other parts of the country. In 1904 the Gov¬ 
ernment contracted with Mr. F. E. Dawdey of Dotshome 
Farm, Fayetteville, N. Y., to grow 18 varieties of Alfalfa, 
one of which was Grimm, devoting an acre to each strain. 
The original stand of Grimm is still in existence. In 
1914 it yielded a total of over 6 tons of cured hay in four 
cuttings. During the first three years of the contract no 
seed was allowed to ripen on this plot, but since then a 
seed crop has been harvested every year until 1914. At 
the present time there are over 60 acres of Genuine 
Grimm Alfalfa on Dotshome Farm. Although Alfalfa 
occupies nine-tenths of the meadow-s in the Fayetteville 
section, no diseases or insect enemies have appeared. The 
seed, which is true to name, clean, and absolutely free 
from Dodder, never leaves the farm until shipped to us. 
Notwithstanding its higher price, w’e feel confident that 
our Grimm seed is the most economical for all farmers 
who desire to grow Alfalfa. Price, per lb., 80c; 20-lb. 
lots and over, 75c per lb. 
Northern Alfalfa 
This stock secured from the northwest, of high ger¬ 
mination, our purity test over 99%. Northwestern grown 
Alfalfa is preferred by many New England farmers, and 
the stock has done very well in New England. Price, 
35c lb.; $30.00 per 100 lbs. 
