6
B

Climate—Drouth does not seriously affect alfalfa, as its roots go deep into the
ground. It likes a reasonable amount of moisture, but not an excess. The soil must be
well drained. If the soil is so heavy that water lies on it for a long period after a heavy
rain, it is not suitable for alfalfa.

The Seed Bed—Land intended for alfalfa should have been previously plowed to a
depth of at least five to seven inches. The best seed bed is fallowed land, or land that
has been in an intertilled or hoed crop the year before. It is not recommended that
alfalfa be sown after a grain crop unless there is an abundance of moisture in the soil
and the land is clean. Have the soil in good tilth, evenly pulverized.

Inoculation of the Seed—Alfalfa cannot be grown successfully without the aid of
certain bacteria that are normally found in nodules or small swellings on the fibrous
rootlets of the plant. If the crop is to be sown on land which has had a crop of sweet
clover or alfalfa but a few years previously, the seed will not require inoculation, as.
there should be plenty of bacteria still in the soil. If sown on land that has not had one
of these two crops on it before, the seed must be inoculated. The method known as artifi-
cial inoculation is the easiest and quickest. Culture for artificial inoculation can be
obtained from seedsmen, from your nearest agricultural college, or from the Dominion
Bacteriologist, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. It is called Nitro-culture.

Nitro-culture consists of bacteria growing on the surface of a jelly-like substance in
a bottle. These bacteria are originally taken from nodules on the rootlets of an alfalfa
or some other leguminous plant. They are then grown on the jelly, much the same as
yeast is grown for baking. Instructions for inoculating seed with the culture are sent
with every bottle.

Time, Rate and Method of Seeding—Alfalfa that is seeded in May will have the best
chance and make the best growth in most seasons. It is not wise to delay seeding it
later than the middle of June.

Ten to twelve pounds of seed per acre is sufficient for most parts of the Prairie
Provinces. If the seed bed has been well prepared, a good catch should be obtained by
seeding at this rate.

The best results are obtained when the seed is sown with the grain drill, the drill
set to run about an inch deep. This will ensure the seeds coming in contact with soil
moisture. To obtain even distribution of the seed, it is advisable to mix with the seed an
equal quantity of cracked wheat in the grain box of the drill.

When a nurse crop is used, the alfalfa may be mixed with the grain and seeded along
with it. The seeder is set to sow the required amount of grain, and the alfalfa passes
out among the other seeds. It is important that the seeds be thoroughly mixed and that
the grain box be not more than half filled, so that the alfalfa seed will not get a chance
to work downwards to the bottom of the box and run out first. A stir with the hand at
the end of the field will also help to prevent uneven sowing.

Wheat, oats, barley or flax may be used as a nurse crop. A good nurse crop is one
that matures early, stands up well and does not make too rank a growth of straw. Flax ©
makes a good nurse crop, and also sixty-day oats, Hannchen barley and Marquis wheat.

Alfalfa may be seeded with or without a nurse crop. Seeding without a nurse crop
is the best way, where the land is clean and the soil does not drift, but a nurse crop is
of benefit on weedy land or where the soil drifts badly.

Care During First Season—On clean land, alfalfa should not require any special care
during the first season, but when weeds are so numerous as to injure the alfalfa, they
should be clipped back with the mower to prevent them from maturing seed and smother-
ing the alfalfa. In all cases the cutting bar should be set so as to cut at least five inches
high. Except for the control of weeds, as just mentioned, alfalfa should never be cut the
first season. It is very important to secure a good, vigorous stand the first season, so
that the young plants will go into the Winter as well developed as possible.

Spring cultivation is a good practice when carefully done. It is most needed on
heavy soils. The common spike harrow or spring tooth cultivator may be used.

Cutting and Curing Alfalfa Hay—The time to cut alfalfa for hay is when the young
sprouts of the second growth begin to start from the crowns. This usually occurs about
the same time that the plants are coming into bloom.

As the leaves of alfalfa contain a greater percentage of nourishment than the stems,
the object when curing alfalfa should be to retain as many of the leaves as possible and
to get the hay stacked without too much exposure to weather.

After alfalfa is mowed, it should be left in the swath until it is well wilted, but not
long enough for the leaves to become so dry as to break off easily in handling. The hay
may be raked into windrows the day after cutting, or the same day if the crop is light.
The hay should remain in windrows until the stems are half dry, when it may be bunched
and put into cocks. With two or three days of good haying weather, the hay will be
ready to stack. It may be stacked with safety when moisture can no longer be twisted out
of it with the hands. It pays to put alfalfa hay under cover when loft space is available.

Varieties—There are a large number of varieties of alfalfa, but only a few of them
are hardy enough to stand the prairie Winters. There are four varieties reeommended
for the prairies. These in order of preference are: Grimm, Baltic, Cossack and Canadian
Variegated.

The information contained in this bulletin is received from reliable sources, but the
Company does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damage which any
person may sustain in carrying out or in attempting to carry out the suggestions.