ALFALFA 
VALUE OF CROP — HOW TO GROW IT 
Alfalfa on Every Farm 
A good many years ago it was thought that alfalfa 
would grow only in the west. But how that picture has 
changed. Now it is grown in every state in the Union 
and can be grown on nearly every farm. 
I want to urge you to get started with this crop. I’m not 
thinking of the seed you might buy but about what you can get 
out of it. It will pay you handsomely even if you have to spend 
a little money to get your land in shape. Try just an acre or 
two. There is no crop that will do as much for you. It will 
bring you larger returns at lower cost than any other crop. 
If you need a cash crop, you can sell the hay or part of it. 
You can get cash 3 times a year with alfalfa If you milk cows, 
it will increase your cream check. If you are raising live stock, 
you can cut your feeding cost. Your animals will be ready quick¬ 
er and they will have a finer appearance. * 
At the same time your land is being made richer 
because alfalfa stores ni- 
tragin in it. It’s roots go 
deep and get plant food 
that other crops cannot 
touch. You can practical¬ 
ly stop soil erosion with 
alfalfa. You can really 
make money with alfalfa. 
Many practice clipping it 
the first year but not tak¬ 
ing anything off. 
The second year it is a 
common practice to cut 
when new shoots at the 
crown are about 2 inches 
long or when the crop is 
about 1-10 in bloom. Do 
not cut late in the fall any 
year or you will suffer 
damage from winter kill¬ 
ing. Let it go into winter 
with a good top growth. 
Select a fairly fertile well drained field. Alfalfa does 
not do well on wet land. Prepare your seed bed by discing 
and harrowing. If you plow, have it shallow. Get a seed 
that is fine on top but well settled underneath. Use a 
roller to pack it if the ground is loose. Roll it again after 
seeding. See general seeding suggestions on page one. 
Avoid a heavy nurse crop. Alfalfa seed generally germi¬ 
nates quickly so don’t sow too early. Many do not sow 
until about corn planting time. In such case the ground 
is disced an extra time or two to eliminate weak growth 
and then no nurse crop is used. Sow 12 to 20 lbs. of 
seed per acre. Inoculate your seed. 
Seeding and Handling Alfalfa 
Soil Treatment 
and Inoculation 
Alfalfa plants need a 
certain kind of bacteria in 
its roots or it can not grow 
well. If your land has had 
a good crop of alfalfa or 
sweet clover on it during 
the past two or three 
years, you will probably 
have your soil inoculated. 
Otherwise use Sunfield’s 
Inoculant. It should be 
put on the seed. It is a 
pure culture of the bac¬ 
teria required. When the 
seed sprouts, the bacteria 
are right there ready to 
go to work. See Page 24. 
If your land is very sour 
or acid, it pays to apply 
lime. On the average two 
to three-thousand pounds 
of finely ground lime stone 
is used 021 acid soil. Ap¬ 
ply as far in advance of 
seeding as possible. If you 
apply just before seeding, 
use air slacked or hydrated 
lime about 400 pounds per 
acre. 
High Lights on 
Alfalfa 
The most profitable farm 
crops yield 3 or more cut¬ 
tings a year. 
Produces as high as 6 to 8 
tons of hay per acre. 
High in feeding value and 
worth good money. 
Worth 45% more than 
Clover. 
Stores Nitragin in the soil. 
Checks soil erosion. 
Stands extremes of drought, 
heat and cold. 
Stands are maintained for 
many years. 
Can be successfully grown in 
every state in the Union. 
Enables you to carry more 
live stock on your farm. 
Reduces cost of live stock 
production. 
Increases milk production. 
It is a real money-maker. 
A good Al¬ 
fa 1 f a field. 
From the 
s t an ding: 
growth to 
part lying: in 
cut swath and 
the balance 
in windrows 
and cocks for 
proper cur¬ 
ing:. 
