The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-24
~INOCvLATYON OF ALFALFA
p.,,,aps No OsheS Crop Requires
Such . Variety Of DiAeee1f 1feoa-
ments, Depending Upon , Spec1A
IoT1lity In Which IL = Gr0Wn. Is
Alfalfa
(Ry j. M. wESTGATE.

Throughout = western nail OF the
States the soil appears TO be
naturally supplied with the proper
for the formation Of the root
tubercies. In the eastern part OF the
however, where the soil con- !
are less favorable to the
growth Of these bacteria, it is nearly
necessary TO supply them al
the time Of seeding. This incubation
be supplied either by scattering
soil from a successful alfalfa feld or
in the form Of artificial
Although possessed OF some lisa
incubation by means OF SOIL
from a successful alfalfa field will
nearly always produce the desired re-
suits. 1t is essential that care be
taken to avoid the introduction OF
seeds Of noxious weeds or harmful
ola n diseases. The bulkness OF the
900 TO 500 pounds OF soil necessary
for an acre makes il advisable to Sc
cure the soil from a field as near by
as possible.
II has been found that soil from
around the roots Of the sweet clover
is quite as effective a alfalfa soil. In
most sections of the country this plant
may De found growing wild in scat
tered clumps. In the South. where
burr clover occurs, soil from around
its roots may be used with good re-
suits The soil may be mixed with the
seed and sown with 1t. 1t may also be
drilled or broadcasted separately. If
b~roadcaSted, the soil should be scat
tered on a cloudy day Or toward
ing an0 Immediately narrowed in, aS
sunshine is harmful to the germs.
If h soil has to be freighted con-
siderable distances, it is usually advis-
able to use but 200 or 500 pounds of
soil per acre, but this should be mixed
xR1tth NyA NtvN>e &c urs~Ak " O~As
nary soil to facilitate ever scattering.
II the soil is difficult to secure, it ia
be best to seed q very small area the
first season, taking special precautions
to have it thoroughly inOculated. This
will then furnish an abundance of soil
for inoculating a larger area the fol-
lowing season.
1t cannot be urged too strongly that
incubation is absolutely essential to
the successful production Of alfalfa.
There are very few soils outside the
alfalfa districts that do not require in
~oculation, and it may be taken as a
general rule that all other soils must
" the incubation supplied in order
to grow alfalfa successfully. A few
soils, however, especially those upon
which sweet clover grows naturally
seem able to produce successful stands
without artificial incubation. These
however. arc the exception rather
Than the rule.
The advantages Of artificial culture.
lie in the greater ease of
ton and application as we'll as in tht
absence Of the danger Of INTRODUCING
plant diseases or harmful weeds. In,
produced by the cultures, il
case 1t Is successful, seems to be il
every way as efficient as when the sol
method is used. Fewer failures ar,
reported in the case Of the soil trans
fer method, however.
1t has been found that successes ar
moro apt to follow incubation will
pure cultures if the seed is sown i'm
mediately after the seed has beel
dried after having been %inoculateG
There is some evidence accumulatin
to indicate that the germs in the pur
cultures when they do survive ar
superior to those normally found i
the alfalfa soil. 1t is suggested there
fore that both the soil-transfer meth
cd and the artificial cultures be use(
II seeded in the late summer Q
early autumn. alfalfa will require n
treatment that autumn unless
growth Of more than twelve inches
made before cold weather. If tn;
occurs. the plants should be clippe
back so that they will go into tn
winter with eight or ten inches {
growth. In this copdition they will /
pest dOle 10 Withstand the winter an
will be in excellent shape to rene
their growth the following sprin,
The first cutting Of hay should be =,
cured in the late spring.
Ii. on the other hand. the e h,
been sown in the late fall or in II
spring, but little more than a clippir
can be secured in the late spring
summer. This clipping should
made preferably when the bas
boots start and should be made thr,
or four inches high. as the plants W
be slow in recovering if cut too 10,
1t may be necessary to cut at son
other time than the ideal time ind
Gated. as, for instance, when the wee,
threaten TO choke out the your
plants, when the blossoms appear.
when the plants begin to turn yello,
Except in the latter case the clippin
are usually left on the ground as
mulch. II the plants have turned VI
low owing to some disease. the eli
pings should De raked I'D and r
moved. A tOp-dressing of nitrate
soda will sometimes invigorate I
diseased plants The same statemer