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MIDSUMMER FARM CATALOGUE

ALFALFA
The Wonderful Clover that is called "Queen of Grasses"
HOW TO GROW AND USE IT IN THE CORN AND CLOVER BELT

In many sections of the country Alfalfa is the most important of all forage plants, and
takes first place in value to the farmer and feeder. While we can do without it in the
clover growing sections of the middle west, there is a place for it on every farm, and it
will be found extremely useful and profitable if handled in the proper manner. It cannot
take the place of other clovers as a part of a short crop rotation or as a quick restorer of
fertility to the soil, but as a permanent meadow it will be found much superior to timothy
and clover as generally used. This superiority is because it is much richer in flesh-forming elements than the grasses n a med, and with its use a balanced ration for all kinds of
stock is secured. It is because of the cheapness of production, and because of its adapt ability
as a good item in any needed ration for all kinds of livestock, that it is conceded
be the most valuable grass which we can produce.
SOW THE SEED IN SUMMER.
In Iowa by far the greater part of the seeding is made in August, as by seeding at this
time land can be utilized that has already produced a crop of grain. The young plants also
begin to make their growth after the hot days of summer are past and are not so likely
to be burned up from excessive sun heat. In ordinary years the young plants will reach
nearly a foot high; sufficient size and maturity to stand the winter without loss though if
sown too late it is likely to get winter killed because of immaturity at time of frost.
PLANT ON GOOD GROUND.
Don't try to grow alfalfa
on wet, sour soil, or on soil
with compact clay sub-soil.
Select the well-drained, porous
soil, so that the roots
may have no trouble to develop.
They must make
growth to a depth of ten or
more feet, or the crops are
curtailed and the plants are
not permanent. Upland is
better than bottom land, as
it is not usually so heavy.
Land that has grown some
variety of clover recently
(within two or three years)
is preferable. Sweet Clover
is usually considered the best
preceding crop but Common
red Mammoth or Alsike clovers all furnish the bacteria which helps the establishment of
Alfalfa plants and make almost certain the securing of a good stand.
HOW TO PREPARE THE SEED BED.
The field selected for Alfalfa should be cultivated a year before you make the seeding.
If you seed in spring (April) take a part of corn or oats field, disc and cross disc thoroughly
pulverizing the soil about 3 inches deep (not more). It is not necessary to plow
unless the ground has become closely packed, and if you have to plow, plow shallow. The
best authorities agree that it is not wise to break the soil too deeply, as the young plants