BUSSELL -UECICLE 
COMPANY 
RUSSELL- HECKLE'S 
TOP NOTCH ALFALFA 
A Field of Top Notch Hardy Northwestern Alfalfa 
TOP NOTCH FIELD SEEDS —The most vital need of those who depend 
for their living on the products of the soil is pure seed, not mixed with noxious weed seed, 
cind of high germinating quality. Our Top Notch brand was originated to designate seed 
stocks filling just that need, and their dependability is responsible for their popularity. 
ALFALFA RANKS FIRST 
Alfalfa deserves to rank first among the 
legumes. It furnishes more green forage, more 
pasture and more dry hay per acre than any 
known variety of hay or grass. Pound for 
pound of dry feeding matter, it is worth more 
than any other forage—and is relished by 
stock, cows, sheep and hogs. 
As a soil builder, there is nothing better— 
extremely deep rooted, it withstands drought 
better than most other legumes. In the South, 
alfalfa usually lasts 4 or 5 years without re¬ 
seeding, sometimes longer, depending on pres¬ 
ence of weeds, weather conditions, etc. Do not 
pasture so closely as to injure the crown or 
new shoots. 
GETTING A START 
Alfalfa requires a sweet soil—if your soil is 
acid, apply some time ahead of seeding, the 
fall previous to seeding if possible, at least 
three tons ground limestone per acre broadcast 
and harrow this in. It will not grow on acid 
soil. Sow on good loam or clay or medium 
sandy soils, provided they are well drained 
to ^a depth of at least 4 feet. Avoid soil with 
a "hard-pan" close to surface, for it prevents 
drainage. Avoid low spots where water stag¬ 
nates or freezes—alfalfa cannot stand "wet 
feet." Sow on a bed free of weeds—if possible, 
sow on land which has been in some cultivated 
crop. Plow previous fall if possible, or at least 
several weeks in advance of seeding. Then 
disc and harrow frequently to set the seed bed 
a firm seed bed is desirable as it conserves 
moisture. 
PLANTING DIRECTIONS 
• 
Plant in March and April, September and 
October. May be sown with a grain drill with 
seeder attachment, with a special alfalfa drill, 
a wheelbarrow seeder or a hand seeder. We 
favor wheelbarrow seeder with 14-foot hopper, 
putting it down evenly with little chance of 
blowing by wind. Should be covered to bring 
it in contact with soil moisture. Sow 20 to 25 
pounds of seed per acre. Many of the most 
successful growers sow 30 to 35 pounds. Wait 
until there is sufficient moisture before you 
plant, then cover about one inch. Some roll 
the seed in, using corrugated roller or culti- 
packer. This conserves the moisture and is a 
great help in getting good stands. 
Poor land is not suitable to alfalfa, unless 
well inanured, or you can first turn under a 
crop of sweet clover (that has been inoculated) 
or soy beans. 
Never pasture alfalfa the first season and 
pmy lightly the second season. Never graze 
too closely and never turn stock into it when 
ground is wet or frozen. 
Cutting Hay. Cut your hay when blossoms 
first appear or when in full bloom. If bloom¬ 
ing on^ sparingly or not at all, then cut when 
new shoots begin to grow on lower part of 
stems. Hay cut early is more palatable and 
has higher protein content. Set mower so as 
not to injure crown. 
Curing Hay. The less handling of the hay 
after it begins to dry the more leaves remain, 
and much of the feeding value is in the leaves. 
Rake the hay before it becomes brittle and 
cure it in the cock unless weather is very un¬ 
certain. Do not put in barn until well cured. 
Cultivating. So long as the stand is satis¬ 
factory and seems to be making good growth, 
leave it alone. If, however, crab grass. Al¬ 
falfa's greatest enemy in the South, begins to 
crowd in, ci cultivation aftor each mowing will 
help to keep down the grass and should 
not injure the alfalfa in the least. Use a spike 
tooth or spring-tooth harrow. Do NOT use a 
disk harrow. 
INOCULATE THE SEED BY ALL MEANS. If 
not inoculated, young plants have to depend on 
whatever nitrogen is available in the soil 
usually not a fifth of the large quantity they 
require. When inoculated, the bacteria soon 
supply all the nitrogen the plants require and 
assure a vigorous growth. Lack of inoculation 
has caused many alfalfa failures. Use Nitra- 
gm, described and quoted on page 21 of this 
catalog. 
R.-H. CO.'S TOP NOTCH OKLA¬ 
HOMA AND KANSAS 
ALFALFA 
The United States Department of Agriculture 
says that a good grade of Kansas Common 
type of alfalfa is standard for the South. This 
type of seed is produced, in Kansas and north¬ 
ern Oklahoma, where they have severely cold 
weather in winters and extremely hot weather 
in summer, with dry periods and wet spells. 
Much more unfavorable conditions than our 
territory has to bear. Repeated tests at our 
Experiment Stations and actual field results 
show the accuracy of the department's state¬ 
ment. We have sold hundreds of thousands of 
pounds all over the South where it has given 
splendid results. 
Our seed this spring are the cream of the 
crop in Kansas and Northern Oklahoma, bought 
by our own representatives who spent almost 
two months in the growing fields last fall when 
crops were harvested. 
R.-H. CO.'S TOP NOTCH HARDY 
NORTHWESTERN ALFALFA 
The Northwestern states, like Idaho, Ne¬ 
braska, produce a very hardy type of alfalfa, 
due, naturally, to the severely cold winters 
that alfalfa must weather there each year. 
Our Top Notch Northwestern Seed represents 
our choice of the stocks produced there, based 
on purity and growth. 
DAKOTA—12 ALFALFA 
Originated in the Dakotas to meet the ter¬ 
ribly severe weather conditions prevalent there, 
where the temperature goes down to 15 or 20 
degrees below zero in winter, with extremely 
hot summers in the mountain valleys. This 
seed has built up a strong resistance to winter- 
killing, an ability to produce a strong, vigorous, 
very productive crop of alfalfa under the most 
unfavorable conditions. 
SEE PAGE 58 FOR SEED SOWERS AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTORS 
The illustration below shows the relative 
amounts of alfalfa hay from adjoining acre plots 
The cost of production, except of handling, was 
the same. The inoculation cost about 20 cents an 
acre and produced 1,500 pounds more hay to the 
acre and of superior quality. 
fiNOCULATED 40% Increase 
UN INOCULATED 
FOR QUANTITY PRICES 
SEE GREEN 
[ 10 ] 
WHY INOCULATE 
Experiments made by the Universit; 
of Wisconsin report a gain due to inoc 
ulation of 1151 pounds per acre c 
alfalfa hay. The Minnesota statioi 
found that inoculation increased th 
yield by 1729 pounds per acre. A gai) 
of 1120 pounds per acre of alfalfa ha; 
was obtained by the Illinois Agricu. 
tural Station. These large increase 
emphasize the importance of inoculatioi 
and show the bigger net profits madi 
possible by the simple method of inocu 
lating the seed. 
SEE PAGE 21 FOR PRICES AND 
FURTHER INFORMATION 
INK PRICE LIST ENCLOSE! 
