The Huttig news., 1914-08-22
( ,mmissioaer Pss.'. Weekly letter.

feel crop, but there is some aues, tion to whether it will grow il all sections and under all conditions Many of our farmers in North western and Northeastern Arkan- sas have been having great success with alfalfa without much prepara- i tion and without inoculating. Ane many in all sections have failed md have come to the conclusion hat alfalfa is not adopted to their soil. In most cases we find the | allure du3 to indifferent prepara- .ion. lack of lime, too many weeds allure to inoculate either the soil IT the seed or failure to select a we'll drained. fertile piece of land. Sometimes one of these necessary ,teps is left out and sometimes an- other. and usually that farmer can report failure with alfalfa. All are necessary, and before you can say you have given alfalfa fair trial you must be able to say that you diligently met with all of the above requirements.
 On some soils there may not be need far lime. but in the great majority of cases there is a need for lime when alfalfa is planted in Arkansas soil. Sometimes farmers have been successful without inoc- ulating but it is best to inoculate and be on the safe side. If alfalfa is such a valuable crop it is certain ly worth giving a fair trial.
 We began last spring to getting ready for an experiment with alfalfa this fall. We manured the land. sowed oats, turned under the stub ble. dr He'd COW peas and worked them clean and turned under the stubble. the soil was lined, and now is bsing thoroughly prepared l for the seed which will be- inocula- fted. be seec vii -1esvu tsse ! first good season after the first of September, and in my opinion nearly every one of the 2.OOO far mers who agreed to give alfalfa a fair trial have done all of these things. and if alfalfa fails with all of these essential things done, we can truthfully say that alfalfa is not adapted to our soil. There will be but few of these farmers who have taken all the necessary steps that can say next July that they have failed with alfalfa.
 am getting a number of re- quests daily to be put on the alfalfa list. It is too late now to properly make the experiment. 1 have al ready had the lime shipped out and have mailed out the culture for in- oculating the seed and all proper steps have been taken in getting the land ready. The seed will be mailed out this week to those far mers who requested them last spring and have made preparation It would hardly be fair to alfalfa for man to undertake the experi- ment now without having time tc get ready.
 If you want to try little e~oe- riment now, 1 would advise you tc select small plot of land on which there has been a clean cultivated crop. Select we'll drained. fertile soil. Give it good application oi barnyard manure and work wei into the soil, and give the soil 6 thorough preparation. Then lime it and work the lime into the so and either inoculate the soil witt sod from an old alfalfa field or in
 
 ocuiate the seed with eommereia culture. You can get the seed from any seed house. Sow about 20 tc 25 pounds of seed to the acre abou the first good season after the Is of September. But do not try al falfa and expect success withou taking all of these steps. At any rate do not be sure that it will no grow on your land until all of ths necessary things have been done
 JOHN fl. PAGE.
 I Commissioner of Agriculture.