Imperial press and farmer., 1902-04-05
Best Method of Seeding Alfalfa.

essary, but many of the points made apply to this section of country:
 This wonderful forage plant requires great care during the first few months. In the first place the soil should be rich, open and porous, with plenty of water available several feet below the surface. The land must not be wet, as the plant absolutely refuses to grow where it's roots are constantly soaked with water.
 In preparing the seedbed make every effort to secure an open, porous soil Flow deep and subsoil where practicable. Pulverize thoroughly and compact carefully. The seeds are so small that the soil particles must be fine so that they can come in contact with them. Then, too, the soil must De sufficiently compact to prevent disastrous drying out. Devoting land to COW peas, beans, rape or potatoes the previous year is very satisfactory. If the land needs fertilizing, grow upon it some of the nitrogen gathering crops and blow them under.
 The best time of seeding is still in doubt. F. D. Coburn in his recent book on alfalfa states that fall seed ing is advisable where grass and weeds are liable to choke out the young plants. This is probably where rainfall is quite heavy. The seeding should be done after the rains have come and when the ground is in good condition.
 In the West, where alfalfa is the most profitable spring seeding is quite the rule.
 The amount of seed per acre is also largely matter of opinion. Some SOW ten or twelve pounds per acre, while others SOW as high as thirty. Under very favorable conditions the lighter seeding is satisfactory, but it goes without saying that as a rule the heavier seeding is best. The chances are that the light seeding will result in a very poor stand. This results in a loss of a part of the ground for the entire year. It pays to put on more seed.
 There is much variation in alfalfa seed and under no circumstances should it be sown without first being tested. It is very easy matter to count out 100 seeds and lay them be- tween two pieces of muslin. Invert a small dish in large vessel and pour water around it. Then place the muslin on the inverted dish, let ting one end of the muslin hang down in the water. Put in warm place and in two or three days count the seeds which have sprouted. Re- peat this until no more germinate. At least 75 per cent of the seeds ought to sprout when treated in this way. While old seed is often good it is not desirable to use it. If it is good and plump, keeping it two or three years will not be particularly injurious.
 The most satisfactory way to SOW alfalfa is by the use of the ordinary seed drill. If the soil is light, roll after drilling. then follow with a har- row. The surface will thus be loose so that the young plants can push through readily. The seed should be put down into the moist soil. As a rule it should not be covered more than one inch. Where soils are heavy and damp covering half an inch is sufficient. Few drills handle alfalfa seed satisfactorily, but this can be overcome by mixing the seed with l coarse corn meal, equal parts, or some other substitute that will feed out evenly. The habit of drilling half l the seed one way, then cross seeding with the other half is commendable. 1 as there is less liability of bare rows | and the seed is more evenly distri- | buted. This has been tried in Illinois