BULLETIN No. 127.FERAY194

FEBRUARY,

1904.

ALABAMVA.

Agricultural Experiment Station
OF THE

"Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
AUB tURN.

Alfalfa

inAlabama.

J. F. DueGG&R, Director and Agriculturist.

MONTGOMERY, ALA.. THE BROWN PRINTING CO., PRINTERS

AND

BINDERS.

1904.

STATION COUNCIL. C. C. TIACH ........................................

President.
and Agriculturist.

J. F. DUGGAR..........................Director C. A. CAR........................................Veterinarian. B. B. Ross ........................... E. M. WILCOX................Plant Chemist

and

State Chemist.

Physiologist and Pathologist. and State Horticulturist.

R. S. MACKINTOSH........Horticulturist

J. T. ANDERSON.. Chemist in Charge of Soil and Crop Investigations. ASSISTANTS. C. L. HARE..........................:.... T. BRAGG.............................. First Assistant Chemist.. Second Assistant Chemist. of Farm.

C. M. FLOYD............................Superintendent J. M.

JONES........................ Assistant
...........

in Animal Industry.

W. L. THORNTON ......

Assistant. in Veterinary Science. Assistant in Horticulture.

H. 0. SARGENT ..........................

The Bulletins of this Station be sent free to any citizen of the State on application to the Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama.

will

ALFALFA. IN ALABAMA.

BY

J.

F.

DUGGAR.

bulletin combines the results of made by this station and the experience of a number of farmers who have begun to grow alfalfa in different parts of the State, as kindly furnished in correspondence with the writer. This is intended as a preliminary report. Extensive experiments on alfalfa in co-operation with the United States Department of Agriculture were undertaken by this station dnring the fall of 1903. It is the expectation to pr-esent those results, and others, in a future publication. Alfalfa, or lulcern, (ledicago sativa), belongs to the family of plants that normally bear enlargements or tubercles on their roots, through which these plants are able to 'take the introgen of the air. is a perennial, living for niany years without reseeding. Great, numbers of buds put out from the old root each year as soon as the coldest portion of the winter is past. During the first few months of its, life alfalfa may be regarded as a tender plant, both as regards cold and drought. After it has passed through its first summer, alfalfa, is extremely resistant both to cold and to drought. The name lucern, which also is properly applied to alfalfa, 'has led some mnen, unfamiliar with alfalfa, and acquainted with sweet clover or melilotus, sometimes in-

ments

The

present

experi-

Alfalfa,

correctly called luccrn, to confuse the two plants.

These

are much alike when young. Alfalfa is a much smaller, fine stemmed plant, having purple blossoms and a coiled seed' pod. Alfalfa has, for many centuries, been an important plant, especially in the warmer portions of Europe. Above all other crops alfalfa may be credited with the foremost place in the development of the arid regions of the United States. At no distant day it will doubtless assume i!iportant proportions in the agriculture of Alabanma. On all soils snuitable to it in this State, it will doubtless become one of the, principal foundations on which the live stock industry will be based.

USES.

Alfalfa is useful for hay making, for feeding green (or soiling), for ,pasturage, and for the fertilization of the soil. Its most important use is as a hay plant. Alfalfa yields more hay per acre than any other leguminous forage plant. Indeed, in yield it has few superiors, sorghum perhaps being the only one of importance in Alabama, and this falling far behind alfalfa in nutritive value. Alfalfa hay is much more nearly a complete food than is the hay of Johnson grass, sorghum, crab grass, etc. Theh following table gives the composition of green and cured alfalfa, and for comparison the composition of certain other forage plants, the chemical data being taken from Henry's "Feeds and Feeding" and from McBryde's tables.

Pounds of food

material in, 100
Q

pounds

of

forage.

cr3 bs3

4-;

;_q
p ay

4D4

Lbs.

Lb

s.

L

bs.Lbs.Lbs.

.Green

Alfalfa hay.............14 Cow pea hay .. .... ..... 7 7 Johnson grass hay ...... .... ,..7.8 Crab grass bay .. 6 Cured corn blades ..... 4 Sorghum hay_(vorydry.) alfalfa ......... 5.2.6 Green rye .............

5

43 42 46 45 36 37 12 71

2 2' 2 2 1 3
1

25 20 29 28. 22 24
7

7 6 8 5 4)28
3

9 1 10 9.2 30
72

.6I12,2

J 75.8

The nutrients of most value are those in the first three colnmns. An acerrage quality of cowpea and of
sorghun hay is believed to be a little poorer,

blades (fodder) a little richer,

than shown by the figures

and

corn

in the table. From the above table it will be seen that alfalfa is
about

as rich

as other hays and corn blades in starchy

materials and sugar,

and about twice as rich; in musclehorses,
cattle of. all

forming material. 'Alfalfa hay is about equal in composition to the best grades of cow 'pea hay, but is not. so
coarse. Alfalfa hay is suitable for

ages, anid sheep. It is sometimes used in the Southwest as the exclusive. food for farm teams, but it is generally

advisable,, for- working

animals to have some corn in ad-

dition to alfalfa. However, the use of alfalfa hay greatly reduces the amount of corn necessary to keep working

6 teams in condition. For six weeks last summer Capt. J. C. Webb, of Demopolis, Ala., fed all the mules on one of his plantations on alfalfa alone. Although they were at work they kept in satisfactory condition. Alfalfa hay has also been successfully used as part of the winter ration for hogs. Alfalfa hay is similar to melilotus hay in composition, but much more palatable. It is less coarse, makes a better appearance, and, unlike melilotus hay, it is salable. As a soiling plant, alfalfa may be utilized throughout every portion of Alabama, since the small area needed for this purpose will enable the soil to be suitably manured or limed or otherwise brought into condition for its suecessful growth. The especial advantage of alfalfa for soiling is the early date at which it is available, rye being the only other practicable crop which may be cut as early in the season. Alfalfa remains green throughout the year except in December, January, and February. In Central Alabama, alfalfa has been cut for food for horses as early as March 11. In nutritive qualities, green alfalfa is superior to green rye, and is eaten with relish by all farm stock and poultry. Alfalfa is sometimes used as a pasture plant on soils to which it is well adapted, but is too valuable for hay or soiling to justify its general use for pasturage, until the acreage in alfalfa is greater than is needed for hay making and soiling. Pasturage shortens the life of the alfalfa plant by enabling weeds to outgrow it, and by packing the soil too closely around the crown and roots, and also by the injury resulting from very close continuous grazing. Stock should never run on an alfalfa field when the ground is wet or frozen, nor during the first year after the seed are sown. Cattle and sheep are subject to bloat when grazing on alfalfa. It is safer in this respect for horses, and perfectly safe for hogs. No one

-decidedly

can afford to graze cattle or sheep on alfalfa unless thoroughly informed in regard to all possible precautions for decreasing the amount of bloat and unless he has a surplus of alfalfa over and above that which he can use for hay and soiling. The principal precautions against bloat are (1) feeding dry food before cattle or sheep, are first turned on alfalfa; (2) gradually lengthening the daily grazing period; (3) allowing stock grazing on alfalfa to have access at the same time to a pasture containing palatable grass. One Alfalfa makes an unrivaled pasture for hogs. may conservatively estimate an acre of good alfalfa pasture as capable of supporting a sufficient number of hogs to weigh at least 1,000 pounds. This record has been greatly exceeded. F. D. 'Coburn says: "Ten young hogs per acre will not damage alfalfa, and should make 1,000 pounds of gain in a season, under ordinary conditions, without grain." While hogs make satisfactory and economical growth on green alfalfa alone, they more completely utilize this crop when a little corn is fed. Alfalfa used as a hog 'pasture, should be mowed whenever it becomes tall or coarse, to promote fresh tender growth. Rings in the hogs' noses are advisable to prevent destruction of alfalfa pastures by rooting. The young shoots on alfalfa remain green practically all winter in central Alabama. Alfalfa has been made into silage with varying success. In our climate where we have frequent, rains, the silo might prove a profitable means of utilizing cuttings of alfalfa too much injured by rains to make good hay, but still succulent. In Alabama alfalfa should be uesd for soil-improvement \only after it has outlived its usefulness as a food plant. Alfalfa greatly enriches the soil in nitrogen gathered from the air.

8
YIELDS OF ALFALFA HAY.

The following estimates of their yields of alfalfa.hay obtained are reported in correspondence by the parties named' below:'
Total no. tons.' per acre. No.Date cuttings.Reportcd by
County 1st cutting.

3 unmanured 4 to 7 5 to 6 mauured 4 to 5 4 to 5 ~4 11/2 medium, land 5 on bottoms 1/2 to 214 3 3 or 4 1 to 5 3 or 4 2- to 4 4 to 6 1 post oak 0 sandy land ........... ................. 3.. .................
11/2 prairie

J. C. Webb.........Marengo...... J. I. Thornton........Greene. May 1. Dr. W. J. McCain....Sumter. May. G. Lightfoot..... May 10 E. F. Bouchelle...... J. 0. Hays...........Greene.May 10 5. Selden............Greene.April
P.

Greene.

J. McKee Gould, Jr.... Greene.

May 10

4 W. M. ....... May 1 4 or 5 B. B. Rudolph.........Lowndes....May 10 3 M. H. Traylor.......... Fall sowing May . .... Lowndes Spring sowing June 1 to 3.... .......... 4 J. A. Dillard.........Montgomery..Mch 24 3 ................... .3 Judge W. H. Tayloe... Marengo............. ... ................ 4 Cobb & Macmillan ... "."Sumtr. April 22...t................3 E. H. Allison...........Morgan..............

Hill...........Hale

The yields estimated by tie above named alfalfa growers as the average production under their conditions indicate that after the first season alfalfa, can be cut to six times 4 times), and that the yield of hay

(usually

three

on good land three or six tons per acre. Land producing less than two tons per acre may yield a profit, but should not be selected for alfalfa without first being fertilized with some legume, with 'manure, or with fertilizers. The most usual date' for the first. cutting found by the above named growers is about. the first. of May or earlier. When sown in the spring one would expect. no cutting of consequence for a. month later, and ;mnnch less a normal yield~ the first season of growth. On pp-or lands with unfavorable seasons no cuttings worth raking are

is

as,

than

obtained during the first season from- spring sowing.

9 the The following extract from Bulletin No. 20 Alabama Canebrake Experiment Station, at Uniontown, prepared by the writer, illustrates the possibility of obtaining from prairie soils large yields of alfalfa the first season, even from spring sowing. "A tract of dark pebbly hillside of medium fertility was plowed and harrowed, and alfalfa seed was sown broadcast on ;March. 20, 19.03. The stand was so thick of althat. weeds were not troublesome until falfa, was' checked. by drought, which prevailed almost continuously from about the middleof 'August until November. and'af"Up to that tilme alfalfa made rapid forded'three cuttings, by September 3. Because of-contoo slow tinuous dry weather, growth after that date for another cutting to be obtained, though with the ordinary rainfall of S'ept.ember and October a fourth ting would doubtless have been secured. "This alfalfa occupied all of 'Cut 23' except 1-20th of an acre, used, for another forage plant. The area of this T. M. -Cocoran, plot, according to, a survey made by

of

the growth

growth

was

cut-

Mr

was 55-100 of an acre. Mrt. Corcoran's survey thew basis of the calculated yield per acrc in the

ing

-isfollowmade

table.

curing. "Each cutting ,of hay required only one day iniz
It was then regardeid by

M

R icheson

as

dry enough to

store in the barn, where it kept without molding. "The yields of hay thus cured were as follows : Lbs. per plot, ..... 1,030
1, 682

June 16 ....
July 15.....

.........
.... ....

Sept. 3...... .... Total..............

....

.........
.... .....

Lbs. per acre. 1,871
3, 058

... .1,922 4,634

3,495 8,424

10 "This shows a yield of more than four tons of hay per acre when stored. It would probably not be safe to regard this as thoroughly cured hay, suitable for storing in large masses. If, to ble thoroughly conservative, we assume that a further drying out to the extent of 25 per cent. after being placed in the barn would be necessary beforel we could regard this as thoroughly cured hay, we should still have a yield of more than three tons per acre. This is an unusually large yield for spring sown alfalfa in its first season of growth, and is probably as much as can ordinarily be expected from very young alfalfa, even when sown in the fall. The conditions producing this large yield were a thick stand, abundant rains from March 'to, August, thorough surface drainage, and a ,supply of root tubercles. "T'o ,emphasize the statement that this was upland prairie land of a fair degree of fertility, the following facts are mentionedd: Corn without fertilizer and without any special treat:ment, averaged in the two cuts which bordered the alfalf area 21 bushels per acre. The land sown to alfalfa in March, 1903, was in 1902 in cotton, without fertilizer; and in 1901 it had borne a. crop of corn without cowpeas. No stable manure had been applied in very recent years, and it is not known that any manure had ever been applied." The following is another instance showing the possibility of getting good yields from alfalfa the first season, even when sown in spring. Mr. W. L. Ennis, Litvingston, Ala., reports as follows: "Sowed 23 pounds of alfalfa seed, inoculated with earth from a bur clover field, on March 20, 1903, on the best land we had, about one acre. Yields of baled hay were
as follows:

"First cutting, 21 bales; second cutting, 40 bales; third cutting, 17 bales. Total, 97 bales. Average weight of bales 104 1-2 pounds." This is about 5 tons per acre.

11
PRICES AND PROFITS.

Those Alabama alfalfa growers who have sold alfalfa report that the price in recent years has been not less than $13 to $15 per ton. Even if we assume a minimum yield of 4 tons of hay per acre on land to which alfalfa is adapted, and a minimum price of $10 per ton, there would still be larger profits in growing alfalfa than most other field crops. Captain John C. Webb, of Demopolis, Ala., writes: "It has paid me better than any other crop I ever planted." Mr. WV. L. Foster is reported in Louisiana Bulletin No. 72 as follows in regard to alfalfa in the bottoms of the Red River, near Shreveport: "It costs an average of $1.25 to $2.00 per ton to put [alfalfa hay] in shape for the market." The books of another alfalfa grower in the same region showed a cost of $1.90 per ton to cut, cure, market, and bale a crop of this hay. The same publication contains this significant paragraph as to the profits of alfalfa in that region: "When the land is seeded to alfalfa by the owner and rented out, he gets fifteen dollars an acre, and the renter furnishes his own harvesting tools, or he gets eighteen dollars rent and furnishes the harvesting tools. This is on land that rents for five dollars an acre for cotton."
SOILS FOR ALFALFA.

At present the most important question in connection with alfalfa in Alabama is the determination of soils on which it can be made a profitable crop. In determining the best soils for alfalfa we shall be helped by bearing in mind that this plant needs a soil (1) well supplied with moisture, (2) well drained, (3) having an abundance of lime, (4) rich in other plalt food.

12 'Alfalfa, is at its best when grown under irrigation, which fact indicates its response, to large amounts of water judiciously applied. In humid regions alfalfa is pre-eminently a crop for valleys, because on these low levels there is a relative abundance of moisture even during dry seasons. On the other hand, the roots of alfalfa in congenial, well drained, permeable soils, penetrate to great depths in search of moisture. But. with the poor drainage in a large part of the south this habit of alfalfa is not fully utilized. The need for ample supplies of moisture can be better understood by the statement that ordinarily hay plants mustl pass through their leaves about 400 tons of water for every ton of hiy produced, or 1,600 tons of water per acre for every crop of four tons. Drainage, important for most ordinary farm crops because of the need of the roots for air, and because of the deelper growth of roots in drained soil, is doubly important for any leguminous or soil-improving plant like alfalfa. For not only do the roots of such plants need water, but the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root tubercles must have thorough soil ventilation in order to perform their work of transforming the valueless nitrogen of the air into the valuable nitrogen of plant food. Whatever may be thought by some of the sufficiency of shallow ditches and levees for draining prairie land sufficiently for cotton and corn, it is certain that such mere surface drainage is insufficient for alfalfa, as, indeed, we believe it to be for the maximum results with other crops. Deeper ditches are needed for alfalfa. No argument is needed to show the greater convenience and saving of land and work if some of these ditches could be converted into underground drains, whether box drains of plank, pole drains, or whether tile be the material employed. If tile drainage in Alabama can be shown to be cheap enough and continuously

13

effective for any field crop,: that crop will be alfalfa:, While few farmers- owning land valued only at . or $25 per acre will be found at present willing to $15 make the large expenditure necessary for tile drainage, this investment will doubtless. be found feasible on certain stiff bottom lands, otherwise peculiarly adapted to alfalfa, especially as these lands advance in price because of their suitability to alfalfa. The establishment of tile factories in the south, or the co-operative purchase of tile machines would so greatly cheapen the cost of tile drainage as to make it practicable for alfalfa fields and other land farmed intensively. Alfallfa should endure for many years. One of our correspondents has alfalfa plants seventeen years old growing on prairie land. If a field of alfalfa, free from disease and from excessive growth of weeds, begins to fail when only a few years old, deficient drainage may be suspected. Alfalfa is wsually spoken of as needing an open soil. While permeability is desirable, yet in Alabama the soils to which it has thus far proved best adapted are lime soils of close 'texture.
PRAIRIE SOILS.

Taking up the different soils somewhat in the order of their proved or probable fitness for alfalfa we must 'deal first with the Central .Prairie Region of Alabama, extending from Union Springs in a northwest direction past

Montgomery, Selma, Uniontown, Demopolis, and Livingston, and into Mississippi. In this region a few very small patches of alfalfa were grown many years ago. So far as I can learn, Capt. J. C. Webb, of Demopolis, was the first one in that part of the State to grow alfalfa on any considerable scale. One of his earliest plantings was made on a shallow gray soil underlaid near the surface, with white rotten limestone. This field lay next to the

14 Tombigbee bluffs, on the western edge of Demopolis, and hence was well drained. Steers had been fed here on cottonseed meal and hulls, and the growth of alfalfa was most satisfactory. Capt. Webb has since largely increased the area which he devotes to alfalfa. The prinicpaz part of the alfalfa area of Alabama is now in Greene and Sumter counties. Prairie soils may be subdivided into quite a number of classes merging into each other by imperceptible gradations. Those prairie soils are best suited to this crop which are best drained and best supplied with vegetabic matter. Extensive inquiries were made of a number of growers of alfallfa in Alabama, and below follows a summary of their, answers to the question as to the character of soil in the prairie region best suited to alfalfa. All expressing an opinion preferred lime to sandy or clay soils. Black prairie is the choice of most of these correspondents, sonme of these expressly naming black bottoms or slough land, others fertile black upland soil. Those who prefer bottom land specify bottoms that are well drained. Two prefer "hammock" land, one of these describing his favorite Alfalfa soil as "alluvial land overlaying stiff prairie." One choses shelly prairie, two cedar "hammock," and one gray upland prairie and "hammock," and another yellow prairie. One correspondent has succeeded best in growing alfalfa on the mixed soil at the base of white marl hills. On the farm of the Canebrake Experiment Station at Uniontown, alfalfa has done remarkably well during its first year's growth on upland of medium quality, and containing a small number of rough pebbles. We are far from recommending alfalfa for that grade of prairie soil that consists largely of these roughened pebbles and that is too poor to make fair crops of cotton. Alfalfa needs fertile soil.

15
Answering the question what soils are unfit for alfalfa, these correspondents are almost unanimous in naming sandy soils. Three (including one farmer who has a very large acreage in alfalfa) specify post oak, and one especially designates black post oak. With the confessedly incomnplete data now available the soils of the prairie region of Alabama may be tentatively ranked in about the following order as regards their suitability for alfalfa: First class: Black bottoms, well drained, and drained alluvial lime bottoms containing a little sand. Second class: Black uplands; shelly gray uplands, and rich chocolate uplands. Third class: Poor gray to white prairie, and poor, stiff red or post oak land.
OTHER LIME SOILS.

As to the suitability to alfalfa of the soils of the remainder of the State, there is much less evidence available. From theoretical considerations there is every reason for expecting alfalfa to succeed in all the lime soils of the Tennessee Valley region, and in the narrow lime valleys in the northeastern .part of the State. Messrs. E. H. Allison and R. P. M'cEntire, of Decatur, write of their success with alfalfa in that part of the Tennessee Valley, and other instances of success in that part of the State have been heard of, but not confirmed by answers to our inquiries. There is reason to expect the best red calcareous soils of Talladega, Calhoun, and counties north of these, to give satisfactory results with alfalfa. In a word, there is a prospect for the successful growth of alfalfa on rich, well drained lime soils in, any part of the State where they occur. Rich bottoms in every part of the State, if not subject

16 to long or otherwise injurious- overflows, and not too wet or too sandy, are probably suitable for alfalfa. If they are deficient in lime it can be added with the probability of profit.
SANDY SOILS.

.garden .conditions,

While it is possible that' alfalfa can be grown under on almost any soils in Alabama, yet it is probable that it will not be a profitable sale crop on upland sandy or clay soils deficient in lime unless they are exceptionally rich. In order for it to be grown at all successfully, on these soils, great care will be required and in many cases heavy applications of stable manure or lime (the latter being supplemented by large amounts of commercial fertilizers) will be necessary. It then becomes a question whether it is more profitable on these sandy uplands thus to coddle alfalfa or to rely on hardier forage plants, as hairy vetch, cowpeas, soy beans, sorghum, etc. We are certainly not yet in a position to recommend alfalfa. for non-calcareous upland soils except on a very small scale. However, the great value of the plant on congenial soil makes it worthy of trial in a small way on every class of soils.
LOCAL EXPERIMENTS IN PROGRESS.

To determine the suitability to alfalfa of each of the principal soils of the State, this station in co-operation with the United States Department of Agricil'ture, last fall arranged for an experiment with alfalfa in nearly every county in Alabama. The unusually dry fall, necessitating late planting, and the early occurrence of frost and freezes, destroyed the stand of alfalfa in many of the experiments referred 'to. It is planned to continue the work along this line.

17
FERTILIZERS FOR ALFALFA.

One ton of alfalfa hay contains approximately 44 lbs. of nitrogen, 10.2 lbs. of phosphoric acid, and 33.6 lbs. of potash. Hence a crop of four tons contains as much nitrogen as is found in 2,450 lbs. of cotton seed meal, as much phosphoric acid as is contained in 336 lbs. of high grade acid phosphate, and as much potash as is contained in 1,075< lbs. of kainit. It would cost, to buy all these amounts of plant food in the form of commercial fertilizers, approximately $35.00. Fortunately iot all of this is removed from the, soil, the greater part being the value of the nitrogen, the largest proportion of which the algets fromn the air. It would, however, refalfa quire about $8.75 worth of phosphate and kainit to replace the amount of phosphoric acid and potash which would be removed from the soil of an acre by a crop of four tons. Hence it is evident that even the richest prairie soils, if cropped for many years in alfalfa, will need to have their supplies of phosphoric acid and potash replenished by the application of manure or fertilizers. This will be especially true if Johnson grass hay has previously been removed from these soils for a numler of years, thus making heavy drafts on the soil's supply of these two minerals. According to Wolff, one ton of alfalfa hay contains 70 pounds of lime, or 280 pounds in a crop of four tons. In three experiments on the station farm at Auburn lime has proved highly beneficial to the growth, permanency and hardiness of alfalfa. In the case of soils not rich in lime it will be necessary from the beginning to apply this material, as is clearly shown in the experiments on the station farm at Auburn. Not only do lime and phosphoric acid directly stimulate the growth of alfalfa on soils deficient in these min-

,doubtlesss

18 erals, but their presence is believed to favor the development of tuherles, on the abundance which largely lepends the thrift, of the alfalfa plant. From 6 to 12 rels, equal to ~ to 1 ton of unslaked lime, or to at least to 1. tons after slaking, may be applied per acre. Liming (or the use of manure or wood, ashes)will be inlispensable for alfalfa on acid soils, of which there are large areas in Alabama. test a soil for acidity, a strip of litmus pap-er should be kept in contact with the moist soil until damp. If the soil is acid the color of the paper will change to pink. On application to the writer litmu.s paper for this test will be furnished free.

of

bar-

blue

To

Where there is no local experience to guide one in sefertilizer, the following formula. (orstable manure), is suggested as a fertilizer' for alfalfa, in regions where the use of commercial fertilizers is general: 400 pounds acd phosphate acreand 50 -pounds inuriate of Potash pier acre. The above isnot. intended to take place of lime, where the soil' is deficient in lime, buttos upplement it. When: lime and acid phosphate are both used for any crop they be applied sepoaaiel y, and. one should be worked into the soil before other, is applied. Tu berdles on the roots alfalfa should supply it with, But if the roots are (levoid of tubereles., nitrate of,
lecting

per

the

should

gen.

of

the

nitro-

soda

or cotton seed mayN
FERTILIZER

be needed.
AT AUBURN.

ExPERIMLENrr

On reddish sandy upland soil
l~ rl)cing4

without, fertilizer, ten plots of alfalfa were; sown, October 29, 1900. The soil was not acid.

onl-y

at, Auburn,

capable of

about 10 to'f12 bushels of corn per acre,

that time fertilized at same rate per acre, namely, pounds of acid phosphate and SO pounds of sulphate

320

the

All plots were at

19 of potash. An effort was made to inoculate the seed, but this was not entirely successful. good stand of plants was found on all plots the latter part bf the following March and the early part.of April, when different nitrogenous fertilizers were applied to these plo'ts as shown in the nexttable. Alfalfa made extremely (poor growth in .1901 on the plots receiving no manure. On all plots, weeds, leaf a slerotial ct sease of the roots, and perhaps nitrogen starvation, killed the larger part of the, plants. The}lime and the stable manure plots suffered leastand kept the best stands. No plo't made a. yield worth harvesting separately. Octobler 7, 1901, without plowing, an additional amount of seed was disced in on all plots. Again in the phenomenally dry summer of 1902, the justify alfalfa on most plots did not yield enough hay raking it up. IHolwever, the plots were clipped four times in 1902-May 6, June 17, Sept. 13, and October 10. On the best plots, those 'to which stabile nanure had been applied about 15 months before, and which were now, reduced by disease and dry weather to a mere fraction of a stand, the yield was only about one ton of bay for the entire season. The extremie drought of 1902, extending practically fromi the middle ;April to

A

rust,

to

of

Aug-

ust, will be recalled by miost readers,.

In the summer of 1902, the poorest plots of alfalfa in New Era cow peas in drills. These slight growth, but were kept clean by late cultivation. The, plots then, plowed up as being
were plowed up and

made

planted

the poorest were those which 18 mnths before

had

re-

ceived per acre either, 200 pounds of nitrate of soda or pounds of cotton seed meal or no, fertilizer. 13, 1902, inoculated alfalfa, seed, 20 lbs.

500 September
to the acre.,

were

sown on these plots, first running a

20 disc harrow several times over the small growth of cow pea vines, a procedure that in ordinary seasons would not suffice to dispose of a crop of cow peas of the usual luxuriance, but which is sometimes a satisfactory treatment of cow pea stubble. On all these plots and nearly all other plots, 2,000 lbs. of slaked lime (equal to abou't 1,200 lbs. of unslaked lime) were harrowed in. Next March certain other plots where the stand had become very thin were plowed and sown in alfalfa. The, stand of alfalfa on other plots, (those which eighteen months before had been fertilized with either manure or lime), was thickened by drilling in with a grain drill a small amount of alfalfa seed, mixed with sand to make the distribution more uniform. The yields of hay obtained in 1903 on each plot are shown in the following table:

Yields

of alfalfa,hay per acre in 1903, and fertiizers per acre previously used.
~VVr~y~ I y yryrCl.v( rVry~\ly yVry ~yVyJ y Lbs.

hay
c

per acre. Fed
06 C)

When sown.
0

Fertilizer for 1901.

Fertilizer winter 1902-1903~.

C

1 2 3 4 5 6

Sept. 13, 1902........
________________________

320 lbs. acid phosphate
$0 lbs. sulphate potash.

240 lbs. acid phos.
1 ton slaked lime. 240 lbs. acid phos. 1 ton slaked lime. I toa slaked lime. j6 tons horse manure. 1 ton slaked lime. 240 lbs. acid phos. 1 ton slaked lime.
f

900 J2700 .: 500 . .. 1100 . . . .. 1600 2300 2400 J 12050 2200 900 1200 2000 2300 2200 1600

1600 1500

200 lbs. nitrate of soda. Sept. 13, 1902........80 lbs. sulphate potash. Drilled. 320 lbs. acid phosphate. 500 lbs. cotton seed meal. 320 lbs. acid phosphate. Sept. 13, 1902........ 80 lbs. sulphate potash. S320 lbs. acid phosphate March 18, 1903.......80 lbs. sulphate potash. 20 bbls. lime. Oct. 29, 1900........320 lbs. acid phosphate. 80 lbs. sulphate potash. 18.4 tons horse manure. Oct. 29, 1900........320 lbs. acid phosphate. 80 lbs. sulphate potash. 80 lbs. sulphate potash.
March

3600 6700 6800 2500

(240 lbs. acid phos. 1 ton slaked lime. (240 lbs. acid pls. 1 ton slaked lime. (240 lbs. acid phos. S1 ton slaked lime. 80 lbs. nitrate of soda. 240 lbs. acid-phos. 1 ton slaked lime. (340 lbs. acid phos. 1 --- ton slaked lime. ~------

7

18,,1903.......

320 lbs. acid phosphate.

8

22.2 tons cow manure. C22.5 tons horse manure. Oct. 29, 1900........ J lbs. acid phosphate. 80 lbs. sulphate potash.

320

________________________

~20 bbls.

1400

1100 ... 800 .

2000 1000 1300

4500 {1800 2200

lime.

9 10 I

March 18, 1903...S March 18, 1903...320

320 lbs. acid phosphate 80 lbs. sulphate potash. (6 tons rotton cowpea vines lbs.acid phosphate. lbs. sulphate potash. I \ 80-~

I. . 900 . .

22 The results for 1903 shown in the above table may summarized as follows:

be

(1) Spring and fall sowing afforded practically the same yields, about one tol of hay pe acre the firstsum flier. (2)>-Nitrate of soda applied at the rate of 80 pounds per acre with the seed in spring failed to increase the yield. (3) tons of stable: manure more than doubled the yield the first season when applied in February to fall sown young alfalfa plants.

-Six

(4) tons of stable nanure enabled alfalfa to yield 3.4 tons off hay per acre the third season after thme application.

-Eighteen

the rate of 20 barrels per acre, result(5) -Ehue, ed the third year, after application in a 'crop practically equal to ;that obtained by tie use of 1S tons of stable manure at the same time.
(6) application of both lime and large amounts of stable manure together did not increase the yield the

at

-The

third year after application as, comparedl with either applied alone.

The first~cutting

of hay was nearly pure

second contained considerable crabgrass., the third cutting contained more crabgrass than alfalfa..
EFFECTS OF LIME AND INOCULATION COMBINED.

and

alfalfa,

the

On October 3, 1902, three plots of sandy soil of fair quality on the Experiment Station farum at Auburn were

sown with alfalfa.
were used on

oculation;

all

Phosphate and muriate of. potash
Polt 3 had neither lime nor

plots.

plot 4 was not limed, but inoculated

lows : Soil from an old alfalfa field

100 yards

a's

in-

fol-

distant,

1r:i

cr:-

an

I harI I

14rt;1 i i

o

N O

140~N~

5 wa;s sut -

IIll 14111inc4

il
uu

I-

1!1r11c III 8

F

itli

I s

im

s

il the41 w
it1t il

Im~cr11111 l-I p

l w 11Ic

limcWl

Ittl

i o

te

th uu

~

l

m

"

111

.GtIt

11

r:Ill

;-v

:111

m

l

~~a

z

1 11 iis4'
11114

444

pm-1 JIpper

(1'

il4

1.

114444e 1'
c.414h

shw 'Note4

4]i4141 hi-W
the( 1414444;Is

t'lkell1

ill Apr;il 144,14

(of 1nler1
iu 14 l~
AnI 4 4 Ic ciii

n111c4I?plow"
I11l441. u44'
444'

pl44. frnb

III(i4' blo414]4t N 411111

lo4th Ii I11144 ie : 14ii s44ill44441 liwL14 1 4sst4411 444 44411. 14411444 B144

1' li iml4 '
1tln,::

;II1(] _1141(1412144441
4

philltlunli S 114411 e

Ine 11
;l s1u~

P. rc-4

(f tic-,

14snccr4 :\I.

, thlP. (11441 u 144111

14e

tof

41' 4414c ol\

:I~ n 11411, 44

5, :Il141

much41

bUsS 4444

O1w4 441444 Iw

phis4144. The4

41 1'' 1441 14iel1 Il' sea,-54oi4 Nv\ s 2.261(; 14114 1441 : 1 1 rr Ndwr iln;H144i 1444-111411411 j4114 11414 41141414 \c wh41. (n1144 444 (41 1 41 1114s "' 5 I l*4 1'44i (4141 4414 I:\ 4~It I 44 ro Ill, . c
1ll-,

'F
44~

A'-

4"'

...1

"W
f~4

4
(4 'N'

>~ A

Fig.

'.

4

4 .4444

not 141444 ed ce4t4' 44 1141, (plant4 est plant, inocullated anlime1d44(.

n4(t limIled;

lar1g

25 iAn adjacent plot was sown in crimson clover at the same time that the alfalfa was sown, and, after the cutting of the crimson clover, the same plot was sown in June in broadcast, sorghu m. The yields obtained give an interesting illustration of the fact that under ordinary conditions on sandy land unsuited to alfalfa, other crops often furnish a far larger quantity of forage. The yield of crimson clover on this adjacent plot, was 6,100 pounds per acre, and the amount of sorghum hay obtained at one cutting during the same season was 13,000 pounds per acre. These are exceptionally good yields of both crimson clover and sorghum. This is an extreme case where all conditions were highly favorable for crimson clover and sorghum, and exceedingly unfavorable for alfalfa.
FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS ON PRAIRIE LAND.

A series of fertilizer experiments on 10 plots was begun in 1902 in co-operation with Mr. J. Hays, Sumter county, Ala., by .whom the fertilizers were applied in accordance with the writer's plan. The seed were not sown until April 3, only a few weeks before the beginning of the memorable drought. In the absence of any considerable amount of rain until August 28, the fertilizers were without effect. No hay was raked, but Mr. Hays reports that this alfalfa, though sown late, "stood the drought better than any other forage plant, and is the only one that kept a good lively green color, while Bermuda grass was parched perfectly yellow, and sorghum was twisted and stopped growing." It should be added that eight of the plots were inoculated with soil from an old alfalfa field. In 1903 Mr. Hays again undertook a fertilizer experimnent for this station. On June 13 he writes: "Plots 9 and 10, the ones most highly fertilized, are the best."

0.

26 These both received per acre 200 pounds meal, 240 ponuds acid phosphate, and respectively 200 and 100 pounds of kainit.
MANURE.

cotton seed

For the prairie region it may be said that no fertilizer except stable manure has yet been snffciently tested on alfalfa to deter-ine its suitability. In nunbers of instances stable manure has greatly increased the yield of alfalfa on prairie lands, and the most experienced growers of alfalfa use it so far as the limited supply permits. The benefit from the use of stable manure is a common experience in west Alabamia, and the application of mma nure has immensely increased the yield of alfalfa on the lime land of Mr. J. A. Dillard near Montgomery, Ala., as the writer can testify from a personal inspeclion. be raised whether alHowever, the question may falfa is the best crop on which to apply stable manure which is so scarce and so sure to largely increase the yield of any crop. So far as concerns the nitrogen stable manure, alfalfa could well dispense with that. For alfalfa thoroughly inoculated and; on land sufficientlv well 'drained to insure fair soil ventilation, should

well

of

be able to obtain through its root tubercles unlimited
quantities of

nitrognen from

the

air.

On the other hand,

sorghum or cotton, not having This means \of securing nitrogen, would make good use of time nitrogen as well of the other constituents of stable nmanure. In favor of the application of manure to alfalfa is the fact that this application in winter promotles early development of the plants, and forces the alfalfa to a sufficient height

as

for cutting at a time when other forage is scarce. if immense quantities of stable manure are- used it will serve as a mulch, retaining the moisture in the soil

over,

Afore-

27 On the other and alleviating the effectis of drought. band, snrface application of manure without incorporation with the soil results in great loss of thevaluable portions of the 'manur'e and is ordinarily awasteful nethod of application.
INOCULATION.

Alfalfa belongs to, that family of plants able to derive a large part of their nittrogen from the gaseous nitrogen of the air. This is dlone through the agency of.enlargements on the roots, called tubercles or nodules. Within these tuberclcs dwell countless numbers of nicronitrosncopic vegetable. organismis, usually referred to gen-fixing bacteria. or, germs. tub'ercles of alfalfa, clovers, vetches, cowpeas, velvet beans, and. other legumes, are essentially fertilizer factories engaged in the manufacture of nitrogen. This is a fertilizer material, which, when bought in the forum11 of cotton seed meal or nitrate'of sodaoraimonilate'd guano, costs about 15 cents per pound. The im-

as

.Root

piortance
growing

of the work of root tubercles may be realized

from 'the~fact that a crop of any one of these plants
on an acre usually contains from 75 to 200 pounds: of nitrogen in roots and tops taken together,.
when the germns' necessary for causing

develop on the roots of

alfalfa

tubercles

to

are absent from the soil

and from the seed, the roots of alfalfa have no tuberdles. T'he proper gerums, which we may designate as alfalfa germs, are usually absent from the sandy

andc- non-

calcareous soils of Alabanma, and often from other soils.
More frequently there are a, few of the pr'oper germs present either in the seed sown or in the soil, so that tubercles develop on a. sall -proportion of 'time plants. legunminous plant without tubercles is a drone

A

28

that no farmer can afford to provide for. Such plants depend entirely upon fertilizers for their expensive nitrogen, or draw it from the earth, thus impoverishing the soil. his The farmer has it in, power to cause tubercles to develop on the roots of his alfalfa, and thus to force the plants to provide their own itrogenous food, and to enrich the land in nitrogen. When leguminous plants form their tuberc'les without aid from man we may Experispeak of the process as natural inoculation. ments on a. number of soils at Auburn and observations of young alfalfa plants in a number of other localities, lead us to. conclude that the alfalfa, germ is wanting or ; not present in sufficient numbers s tn:ost of the sandy and clay soils of Alabama that are deficient in lime. On such soils, the necessary germs must be supplied by the process of inoculation, or more accurately, by artificial inoculation. Thie material used for inoculating alfalfa may be soil from a field where alfalfa or bur clover (a plant of the same genus) has in recent years been well supplied with root tubercles, or it may be a concentrated patented material now being manufactured in the laboratories of the United States Department of Agriculture. To inoculate with soil we have used the following methods, depending on convenience and on the amount of inoculating soil available. (1) With small amounts of inoculating soil: To about a peck of soil from an old alfalfa or bar clover field add several gallons of water; stir well; allow a few minutes for settling and then moisten every alfalfa seed thoroughly with the muddy water, which contains the necessary germs. Then dry the seed by mixing with them more of the same inoculating earth in a dry condition and 'crushed as fine as possible. Cover seed promptly.

29 (2.) With large amounts of inoculating earth: Moisten the seed as above'; dry as above, if convenient; sow broadcast per acre 20 to 30 bushels of the same earth in as fine a, condition as possible, and harrow in seed andfinoculating earth ;as promptly as possible. The method of inoculation and the amount of inoculating soil can be varied accordiing to convenience. Directions for use accompany the pure cultures sent from Washington. Dr. A. F. Woods, under whose direction this inoculating material is distrilnuted, authorizes me to state that the Department will supply free inoculating material for alfalfa to any parties whose natves I shall send in, and who will furnish their own seed. Applicants should state the number of acres that they will plant. On prairie soiil the writer has repeatedly observed that alfalfa plants are, when young, well stocked with tubercles. The cause for this is evident from the recent investigation of Dr. 'C. G. Hopkins, of the Illinois Experiment Station. Under date of February 2, 1904, he writes as follows with reference to his bulletin now in press, and gives permission for this use of his results: "The ,iinvestigations reported in this bulletin pjrove conthat the bacteria of sweet clover are similar to the bacteria of alfalfa."

clusively

RESULTS

OF INOCULATION

OF ALFALFA ON SANDY LAND.

In an inoculation experiment with alfalfa made by the writer in February, 1897, the yield of alfalfa at the first cutting was increased 336 per cent as the result of inoculation. The soil within the plots was from a sandy field near Auburn, and the inoculating material was the dust sifted out of bur clover seed and derived from the soil on which bur clover had grown. In several later

30 field experiments the! of bur clover earth has produced tubercles and greatly increased the yield of alfalfa. Figure 2 shows typical alfalfa plants taken April, 1903, from three plots at Auburn, sown the preceding October. The small plants on the right had been neither limed nor inoculated ,and were free from tubercles; those in the center, had been inoculated, but not limed; the largest plant had, been inoculated and imed, and here the supply of tubercles is abundant. Soil from an old alfalfa field was used in this experiinent as inoculating material.

use

in

INOCULATION OF ALFALFA ON PRAIRIE SOILS.

In the light of Dr. Hopkins' denonstration we can now see why it is unnecessary to inoculate

alfalfa on fields where melilotus (sweet clover) has recently. grown, and produced tubercles, as it .almost invariably does on prairie soil. It would still seen, advisable, however, to inoculate alfalfa seed to be sown on such prairie land as has
not recently grown melilotus.

probably in the prairie region, we have no proof that otherwise,
been widely distributed by wind and water and

While these germs have

1ihey are prescnt in all fields of prairie land in sufficient Sm umbers for best immediate resuilts with alfalfa. Indeed the observation made by Mr. J. 0. Hays in
our fertilizer, experiment on gray prairie land in Greene county, previously -referred:'to, seems, to indicate that

there is, an advantage, at least during the first few months of growth, in inoculating- alfalfa, on some lime land. In 1992, on land which bad been used as a pastl:i e for a number of years, he reports that on the sixmnonths-old inoculated alfalfa. plants were

tubercles

31 abundant, while up to that time none had been found on the plots not inoculated. Relative to a similar experiment in 1903, he writes under date of June 13, 1903, as follows "I inoculated all plots except No. 8, which seens to be the poorest of any of them."' In view of Dr. Hopkins' conclusions, we can now r'comeued that earth from an oldmelilotus field be used for inoculating alfalfa, where this is decidedly more convenient than to uses earth from alfalfa bur clover fields or than the pure, culture of the laboratory.

or

TIE

TO

SOW.

The following is a summary of results of sowing alfalfa on the station farm, during the eight years that work has been under the writer's charge: We have records of fall sowings on ten different dates. In every case when alfalfa was sown broadcast after November, 1, the standwas ruined by cold. In one ca see alfalfa sown as early as October 7, was al-

(1901),

most completely winterkilled.

as early September 13 (1900), and as late as October 29 (1899) survived the winter, although in other, years a considerable proportion of the sowings made- in late October resulted disastrously. We have records of eight dates of sprling sowing of alfalfa on the station farm. These point to the first half of March as better, than a later, date.
In our, co-operative

as

Plants from ,seed sown

1904,

arranged

experiments

with alfalfa in 1903-

for, in nearly every county in the State,

fall sowing was made unduly late by drought, and cold weather ca nie on unusual ly early, and has been unusually continuous. Moreover, in most cases there wasi

sufficient

in-

moisture

to causle the young plants to grow

32 iUnder these conditions, it is estimated from rapidly. reports thus far' received that in considerably more than half the experiments the stand of alfalfa was ruined. These reports afford an interesting comparison of the relative hardiness towards cold of the young plants of alfalfa, crimson clover and hairy vetch. The first two, whcn very young, are almost equally sensitive to cold, while hairy vetch is hardier in this respect than either. Alfalfa been successfully sown in Alabama, both in the early fall and in the early spring. principal advantages,, of fall sowing are the following:

munch

has

The

(1.)

A

larger yield of hay obtainable the first sum-

mer; (2.) Less danger of having the alfalfa overtaken and crowded out by crab grass and weeds; (3.) Use of teams in preparation for alfalfa in August and September, when they would not be.employed izi preparing for, the usual crops. The chief advantages of spring sowing are as follows : (1.) Fredomm fronm risk of winter killing, to which fall sown alfalfa, especially that sown late, is liable. (2.) (3.) ber. Each reader must, contract thmese opposing advantages in the light of his own conditions. By far the larger proportion of alfalfa, sown in Alabama on prairie soils
is put in after, Christmas, which

Opportunity to sow alfalfa ,after' cotton, the

best of the 'hoed crops to precede in December

it;

Usual better condition of the land for plowing

and January than in August

and Septem-,

suggests

that this is

33

generally the most convenient time. Some years it is the only practicable time, the ground being too dry and hard in the early fall. Several extensive growers of alfalfa who sow chiefly in the spring, nevertheless express a preference for fall sowing when there is sufficient moisture for thorough preparation and for sowing early in the fall. Fall sowing should occur at a date early enough to permit the roots to penetrate deeply before freezes begin, and thus to anchor the plants against heaving. Not only are young alfalfa plants easily heaved or lifted out of the soil by alternate freezes and thaws, but the very young plants are otherwise and more directly injured by severe cold following mild weather. In Central Alabama we would recommend that fall sowing be done, if practicable, from September 15 to October 15, with the preference for the earlier part of this period. While a date as late as November 1 occasionally gives success, the risk of winter killing is then too great. If alfalfa cannot be sown before October 15 in' central Alabama, we would recommend that sowing be postponed until March. The safest period for spring sowing is from March 1 to 20. Some sow on prairie land as early as February 20, but from February sowing at least one instance of loss of stand from cold has come under our notice. While seed sown in April sometimes succeed, the suecess is less uniform than with March sowing. The more weedy the land the stronger the reason for fall sowing.
PREPARATION.

There is no field crop that pays better for thorough preparation than alfalfa. The man who is content to prepare land for alfalfa as he would for oats had best
3

34 leave this crop to some one else. The plowing for alfalfa should be deep and thorough and it is highly probable that subsoiling on prairie and other stiff land would be more profitable for alfalfa than for any other field crop. Harrowing must be done, not once, but from two to four or more times, according to the condition of the land. Usually two harrowings with a disc harrow and two. with a tooth harrow (including the one given after sowing the seed) will suffice. Harrowing for fall sowing will be most effective if done within a few hours after plowing. For spring 'sowing this is less imperative. It is important that between the time of plowing and the time of sowing a sufficient interval should elapse for rains to compact or settle the soil. If sufficient rain does not fall to settle the soil, this should be done by repeated use of roller or weighted drag. One of the 'most common causes of failure to secure a satisfactory stand in alfalfa growing consists in having the soil too loose at planting time. For fall sowing plowing should occur at least several weeks before the seed are to be sown. If alfalfa is to be sown about the first of March the plowing may be done in November or December, or January, more satisfactorily than just before planting. Land plowed before Christmas will only need to have the surface layer freshened with the harrow at the time of sowing. While the above statements embody the general experience, success sometimes attends the sowing of the seed immediately after plowing. A farmer in the northeastern part of Texas who has many hundred acres of alfalfa, describes his method of preparation of black prairie for alfalfa as follows: "I use a disc plow with four good mules, run a subsoil plow drawn by six mules eighteen inches deep behind the disc. Then I follow with a disc harrow with four mules, tken float

35
the land with an implement eight or nine feet long and five feet wide, made by 2x6's spiked together; six mules draw this. I can reverse thel float, turn it over and use it to level the land in rough places. I am not yet ready to seed this land prepared in this way. I must have a rain on it that will settle it and take the air cells out. Then, with a light toothed harrow I break the surface, sow the seed with a wheelbarrow seeder and cover with a light harrow followed by a heavy steel roller. Good black land seeded in this way will return $40 or $50 per acre every year, at very little cost for labor." One grower in West Alabama subsoiled his land for alfalfa last fall, but it is too early for the effects of subsoiling to become apparent.. One grower in the same neighborhood harrowed his land seven times, an extreme case. Others relport sa,ti sfaction from one or two harrowings, a number often insufficient. It should be borne in mind that preparation for alfalfa is expected to suffice for from three to twenty years, and should therefore be thorough.
SOWING BROADCAST VERSUS IN WIDE DRILLS.

It is maintained by some parties that in the Gulf States drilling alfalfa, with such distance between rows as to permit of cultivation, will be more satisfactory than broadcast planting. In three experiments at Auburn and in one at Uniontown, drilling was unsatisfactory. On the station farm at Auburn it was found difficult in planting by hand in drills to avoid covering the seed too deep, and it was found that the amount of cultivation required to keep the grass and weeds subdued in drilled alfalfa was greater than it is practicable to give to a hay field. On the Canebrake experiment farm at Uniontown,

36

where the drills were about 24 inches apart and no cul tivation given, crab grass and weeds crowded the alfalfa more than in the portion of the field sown broadcast. However, for a small patch of alfalfa kept for feeding green, drilling and cultivation may be necessary and feasible, especially on highly fertilized sandy soils filled with the seeds of crab grass and weeds. Planting in very narrow drills by the use of grain drills is a favorite method in alfalfa-growing states. This of course does not permit of cultivation.
SOWING.

Most of the successful growers of alfalfa in Alabama have used abioutt 20 pounds of seed per acre, and this is the amount that has invariably been used on the station farm at Auburn. Capt. John C. Webb uses 40 pounds The excellent stand obtained in 1903 at the Canebrake station resulted from sowing a little more than 20 pounds per acre. One grower in Alabama reports the use of 30 pounds, or half a bushel of seed. Yet this grower is one who most emphasizes the presence of large amounts of crab grass and fox tail grass, indicating that sowing large amounts of seed is not always effective in crowding out weeds, though it has that tendency. If ten or more acres are to be sown, it is best to use one of the ordinary patterns of seed sowers instead of sowing by hand. The Cahoon is the one used at this station, and this seems to be in most general use in this State. One grower makes use of the seed attachment to the disc grain drill, a method which is common and satisfactory in states where this machine is in general use. When alfalfa seed are sown by hand, the most even distribution is obtained by dividing the seed into two parts and going over the land twice.

37 In Alabama alfalfa should be sown alone and not with grain, which is so much used as a nurse crop for -alfalfa, clover and grasses in the North and West. In covering alfalfa the procedure must necessarily differ according to local conditions, the preparation of the land, and the state of the weather. The most common custom in Alabanma is to cover with a spike tooth harrow, teeth inclined backward. An equally good or better way employed by a few growers is to cover the seed with a weeder, which affords a more shallow covering than any form of harrow. A carefully made brush drag can also be used, but either of the preceding implements is preferable. We have found it advantageous when the land is dry to use the roller immediately after sowing and then to use the harrow or weeder. This order could be reversed, but at the risk of having the rolled surface transformed into a dense crust, should a heavy rain fall occur before the seed germinate. Coburn, an authority on alfalfa, advises that when from any cause a crust has been formed prior to the appearance of young plants, thlat this crust should be, broken with weeder or harrow, even at the risk of bringing some of the sprouting seed to the surface. It pays to buy the best alfalfa seed, even though they should cost several cents more than inferior seed. Imported as well as old should be avoided. So far as this information can be obtained, it is desirable to purchase seed grown in regions where love vine (dodder) is not abundant. In any case it is advisable to buy seed that have been run through a machine that is claimed to be able to remove the seed of dodder. As indicating the need of buying the best alfalfa seed, even at an increased price, one of the farmers who is conducting one of our alfalfa experiments in Wilcox county, under the

38 writer's direction, reports! as follows, under date of January 23, 1904: "All the seed sent from Washington came up,readily to a good stand. * * * The seed we bought did not make a 15 per cent. stand." To test the germinating power of alfalfa, dampen two small pieces of cloth; place 100 seed between the two pieces of cloth. Then put the whole thing in a plate or salcer, cover it, and leave it in a warm room, repeatedly moistening the cloth before it dries. Count the seed that sprout within ten days.
BEST CROPS TO PRECEDE ALFALFA.

A crop selected to get land in best condition for alfalfa should be one that either leaves the land clean and unusually free from weeds and weed seed, or one that adds vegetable. matter, and hence enriches the soil. Cotton fulfills the first requirement, and cow peas or melillotus the second. The land that is to be sown in alfalfa next fall should be sown thickly in a running variety of cow peas in May, 1 1-2 to 2 bushels per acre. The vines should be cured for hay about a month or more before the time for planting alfalfa. On soil very deficient in vegetable matter it may be profitable to plow under the entire growth of cow peas. If the latter plan is followed, this mass of material should be plowed under in ample time for rotting to occur, or from 40 to 60 days before the date of planting. When green vegetation is plowed under at this season it is desirable to compact the soil with the roller or heavy drag, otherwise this vegetable matter before rotting will injuriously dry out the soil by preventing the rise of capillary moisture from the moist subsoil. On soils deficient in lime the lime necessary for alfalfa can be applied before

39

the green growth of cow peas is turned under, thus hastening rotting and obviating the souring effect that might otherwise occur. Melilotus furnishes vegetable matter and nitrogen for alfalfa, and also by means of the decay of its large and deeply penetrating roots assists in the drainage of prairie soils. It is advisable to let one carefully worked cotton crop, intervene between the turning under of the second years' growth of melilotus and the sowing of alfalfa seed. This interval permits the owner to free the land from any volunteer plants of melilotus and from weeds.
JOHNSON GRASS LAND FOR ALFALFA.

One of the important advantages of alfalfa is its ability to grow in land too thickly set with Johnson grass for the profitable cultivation of corn or even of cotton. By the introduction of alfalfa or hairy vetch into a Johnson grass meadow, the soil will be to some extent enriched in nitrogen, the nutritive quality of the hay improved, and the total yield of hay ,increased. An effort was made by correspondence with leading growers, to learn whether the successful growth of alfalfa in Johnson grass meadows was conditional such preparation of the land as would kill a large part of the Johnson grass. The general experience is that alfalfa thrives in old Johnson grass meadows., even when the preparation for alfalfa is such as would ordinarily improve the growth of Johnson grass. The verdiet was almost unanihnous that Johnson grass did not crowd out the alfalfa in the second or third year after the alfalfa was sown. Those with the longest experience were as emphatic as others in stating that alfalfa was quite equal to a contest with Johnson grass, fnd some growers even stated that the alfalfa was tending

upon

40

to crowd out the Johnson grass. When alfalfa is sown in land stocked with Johnson grass, fall sowing gives A still the alfalfa an advantage over itscompetitor. ascendency to alfalfa confurther means of girving the sists in breaking the Johnson grass land and sowing thickly with cow peas, cutting the cow peas and Johnson grass for hay, and turning under the stubble a month or more before sowing alfalfa seedy
PRINCIPAL ENEMIES OF ALFALFA.

Among these first rank must be given weeds and weedy grasses, chief among which is crab grass. Crab grass and absence of tubercles have been responsible for the majority of failures that have come under the writer's observation. Other weeds that have given trouble in alfalfa on the station farm are evening primrose, morning glories, pepper grass, and even lespedeza or Japan clover. Among weeds most troublesome in prairie regions are crab grass, Bermuda grass, Sida spinosa, (a rather low branched weed with small yellow flowers and solid leaves), morning glories, fox tail grass, prairie or wire grass, horse nettle, and cow itch vines. The only method known for decreasing injury from weeds is one of prevention rather than cure. The injury from weeds is best prevented by growing just before alfalfa, cotton or some other crop requiring carefu cultivation. The avoidance of manure made from feeding hay abounding in weed seeds is also advisable. Manure from cattle fed on cotton seed meal and hulls is the best kind for alfalfa. Fall sowing is one of the best means of enabling alfalfa to get a start and triumph over its many enemies among the weeds. Judicious use of the disc harrow and even the use of the weeder when crab grass has just appeared is sometimes helpful.

41 Dodder, which is often introduced in alfalfa seed, is a thread-like, yellow vine, fleeding on and destroying alfalfa. Mowing and burning in place is the most convenient of several remedies. The most successful method of combatting weeds .consists in frequent mowing during the first year, even when the alfalfa plants have not attained sufficient height for hay making. Repeated clipping with the mower during the first summer will do much to repress weeds and to thicken the stand of alfalfa by making the plants throw out a greater number of stems. Leaf rust on alfalfa, appearing in the form of small black spots on the leaves, has been very destructive to alfalfa on the station farm, especially during damp weather. When it becomes serious, the best thing to do is to mow the alfalfa, the new growth usually escaping injury for quite a while. A more fatal disease occurring on alfalfa on the station farm is a sclerotial root disease, which, however, the writer has not observed in other alfalfa fields. Indeed this root disease has been the principal cause of failure of our most promising fields of alfalfa, a large proportion of the plants in certain fields being killed by it.
CLIPPING AND DISCING ALFALFA.

After the :young plants appear the most effective aid that can be given them is to use the mower frequently. Clip young alfalfa whenever weeds crowd it, and whenever it rusts or turns yellow from any cause. If the growth is slight, leave the mown material on the ground as a mulch and fertilizer, provided it is of a kind that will not give trouble when hay is raked after a later cutting.

42

Old alfalfa, whose growth has been arrested ,and which has become unthrifty, is often benefited by prompt mowing, even though the growth be too light for harvesting. The next most important treatment usually recommended for alfalfa more than a year old is to run a disc harrow over it when needed. This is sometimes done after each cutting, but judgment is needed in this matter. The discs are set straightt so as not to cut off the plants. Discing serves as a cultivation and to thicken the stand of old alfalfa. On sandy land at Auburn we have found the weeder useful in young alfalfa in killing very young grass and weeds just germinated. At Auburn crimson clover sown early in October in old drilled alfalfa, was ready for cutting at the same time as the alfalfa, and The combined yield was large. This combination is not advised except) when the stand of alfalfa has become so thin that it is about time for it to be plowed under.
TOLERANCE OF ALFALFA TOWARD OVERFLOWS.

When excessive rains occur and poorly drained soil remains saturated for a long time, alfalfa sometimes take on a pale yellowish, sickly color. This plant is. classed as among those least able to endure prolonged saturation of the soil. Yet the large yields obtaihed on bottom, lands make it worth while to take some chances of injury from overflows, especially on soils so drained naturally or artificially that the ground soon dries after the waters subside. An overflow does not necessarily mean the destruction of the alfalfa plants. Experience in other states indicates that alfalfa may pass saf ely through a submerg-

43 ence of several days if all conditions are favorable. Its endurance of overflow is greater when the water is moving thai when it is stagnant, and greater during the cooler periods of the year than when the plan't'is in a more active stage of growth. The deposit of much sediment on the plant, and hot, fa.i' weather immediately after the water passes off are conditions unfavorable to recovery. Rains, washing off the sediment, are favorable to recovery. In a bulletin of the Texas Experiment Station are cited two instances in which alfalfa in the Brazos River bottoms was under water for five or six days in summer without the destruction of the stand, except where the deposit of sediment wasi great or on poorly drained areas. These are extreme cases, and refer to soil that was well drained. 'Mr. R. P. McEntire, of Decatur, Ala., gives his experience with overflow as follows: "In the fall of 1901 I sowed 3 acres October 15, and got a good stand. In January we had an overflow from the Tennessee River, which was out over the land for two weeks. In a few days we had a hard freeze. Then on February 15 we had another overflow, which lasted 10 days. As the When spring water went off we had another freeze. It would opened I had something like half a stand." seem that one might raise alfalfa on land naturally well drained and where the overflows occur chiefly in winter, and where it is unusual for the water to remain on the land as long as three or four days in winter or two days in the warmer part of the year.

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HARVESTING ALFALFA.

A discussion of the methods of harvesting alfalfa and of the machinery and devices employed would unduly extend this bulletin. In brief, alfalfa should be cured with the shortest practicable exposure in the swarth to the sun. The leaves are the richest portion of alfalfa, and if the hay is sunned too long the leaves drop off. The preferred time for cutting alfalfa is when about one-fourth in bloom, but this varies with the weather and with the thrift of the plants.
SUMMARY.

Alfalfa is a perennial leguminous plant, useful for hay;, feeding green, pasturage, and for soil improvetme In nutritive quali'ties alfalfa stands in the front . and when fed to farm teams the ration of corn ean be greatly diminished. On suitable soil the yield of hay exceeds that of any other hay plant. On prairie soils in Alabama yields of more than 3 tons per acre ve; e in two instances obtained within seven months aft:r sowing the seed, and the yield continues to increase for several years. Farmers report 3 to 5 tons per acre as the usual yield of hay per acre on prairie soil in Alabalna, and in a number of instances these yields are greatly exceeded.

rank,

Alfalfa makes an unrivaled hog pasture, and is also recommended as a pasture plant for horses and mules. Cattle and sheep sometimes bloat when grazing on al-

45 falfa. Pasturing, especially during the first year, injures and sometimes kills alfalfa. Soils for alfalfa should be rich, well drained, well supplied with lime and vegetable matter. Alfalfa has been repeatedly demonstrated to be a success on the best grades of prairie soil on both uplands and lowlands. There is reason to believe that alfalfa will thrive on the lihe soils of the Tennessee Valley region and on other calcareous soil in Alabama, and on fertile, well drained, alluvial soils in nearly every part of the State. A crop of 4 tonsof alfalfa hay contains 176 pounds of nitrogen, 40.8 pounds of phosphoric acid (equal to that in 336 pounds of high grade acid phosphate), 134.4 pounds of potash (equal to that in 1,075 pounds of kainit, or in 269 pounds of muriate of potash, and 280 pounds of lime. To replace only the phosphoric acid and potash by commercial fertilizers an expenditure of about $8.75 would be required. The preparation of the land for alfalfa should be thorough, including plowing as deep as practicable, and repeated use of disc and spike tooth harrow. Generally it is best to plow a number of weeks before the seed are to be sown. A weeder or light harrow is the preferred mode of 'covering the seed, which are sown broadcast at the rate of 20 pounds or more per acre. Fall planting before October 15, when practicable, gives alfalfa a start ahead of weeds, but spring planting (early in March), is usually
more convenient.

Alfalfa, especially that sown in the spring, requires land as free as possible from seeds of weeds, crab grass, etc. Repeated use of the mower during the first year is the preferred method of combatting weeds in alfalfa. Planting alfa.lfa in drills and cultivating it may be

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suitable for a small patch kept for feed ag green, but this system was found impracticable for a hay field. Usually the best crop to precede spring sown alfalfa is cotton, especially if cotton follows melilotus (sweet clover). The best crop to prepare the land for fall sown alfalfa is cow peas, sown very thick. Numbers of farmers have found that alfalfa thrives when sown on Johnson grass meadows, holding its own, at least for the first few years, against this aggressive grass. Dodder, a yellow thread-like growth, is a serious enemy of alfalfa. One of the remedies consists in mowing and burning. Seed merchants often pass alfalfa seed through a machine which is claimed to remove the dodder seed. On sandy upland soils at Auburn alfalfa has not afforded very profitable yields. On such soils it requires heavy applications of lime or barnyard manure, and it is believed that more profitable use can be made of manure. At Auburn neither nitrate of soda nor cotton seed meal very greatly increase the yield of alfalfa that was properly stocked with root tubercles. Acid phosphate and potash fertilizers are considered indispensible here, and generally advisable on sandy or other soils not rich in lime. Inoculation with soil from old fields of either alfalfa or bur clover greatly increase the yield of alfalfa growing on sandy land. The germ that causes tubercles to develop on sweet clover (meliltous) also causes tubercles to develop on the roots of alfalfa. Hence artificial inoculation of alfalfa is not necessary when it is grown on prairie land that has recently borne a crop of melilotus. Artificial

47 inoculation of alfalfa is probably advisable even for prairie soils when it is uncertain whether either the melilotus or alfalfa germs are present in great numbers. In regions in Alabama where neither alfalfa, meli'lotus, nor bur clover is extensively grown, inoculation of alfalfa is advisable. For this, purpose one may use soil from old fields of either of these plants or inoculating material prepared in the laboratory.