



ides Alfalfa 





Time of Planting 
1. Except on sandy soils or on high land 
that is likely to be dry, Alfalfa can be planted 
in early spring with a nurse crop of grain or 
flax. As a nurse crop, the seeding rate of flax 
is usually 30 to 42 pounds per acre. The seed- 
ing rate of grain as a nurse crop is not much 
over half the usual planting rate.. As a rule 
it is better if the nurse crop is taken off before 
a rain or during unsettled weather if the young 
Alfalfa plants have made a good start. How- 
ever, if drought occurs and it appears there is 
not sufficient moisture for both the Alfalfa 
and the nurse crop, it is advisable to remove 
the nurse crop, leaving a stubble 5 to 6 inches 
high. If the nurse crop is left to mature, the 
shocks should be removed as soon as possible. 
2. Summer seeding without a nurse crop 
is usually very satisfactory, particularly on 
sandy land or on high land. Summer seeding 
permits thorough fallowing to kill the weeds 
before the Alfalfa is planted, and if the seed 
‘bed is kept prepared, Alfalfa can be seeded any 
time when moisture conditions are most favor- 
able provided it is done early enough to permit 
the plants to become well established before 
freezing. If for any reason the first seeding 
should be unsuccessful, the seed bed can be 
quickly prepared again for a second seeding 
the same year. 
8. Alfalfa can also be planted to good ad- 
vantage in corn at the time of last cultivation, 
or on well disced land after a crop of canning 
peas has been removed. 

field like this makes money for you above ground and below ground. 

ach a stand it pays to prepare soil carefully and use good seed. 
