“After trees become old enough to bear and need all the land between them, and that fertilized and renovated, alfalfa may be used as a food gatherer and distributer. It pushes down into the lower strata, bringing up mineral elements, captures nitrogen from the air through its root processes, and brings all together near the surface, thus giving to the trees the food they need to fill up and mature fruit. Nor is this all. The alfalfa falling on the ground makes a soft cover upon which windfalls may drop with little bruising; it so occupies the soil as to allow no foul growth to creep in; it does away with the work of weeding or cultivating, and keeps the surface cool and porous, furnishing excellent pasture for hogs if the trees are protected. It would be possible, of course, in this system of co-operation between fruit trees and alfalfa to secure a crop of hay or seed during the off years for fruit, but whether this would prove profitable may be questioned. Orchards growing under the conditions described have produced magnificent crops of fruit which, for size, quality and coloring, is seldom equaled.” SOME ALFALFA “MUSTS” AND “DON’TS” A Knox county, Ohio, man, in expressing himself as to some of the requisites for success with alfalfa, as observed from his viewpoint has this to say: “I have known about alfalfa from boyhood; been familiar with it for thirty years, and have grown it successfully on many soils, from a stiff clay, upwards. The failures which I have seen have been accounted for by the non-performance of some of the essentials. There are certain ‘musts’, not ‘shoulds,’ to be observed to secure success. Here they are from my experience: “First of all the seed must be pure, of high germinating power, and of the highest possible vitality. If I doubted my own proficiency in these determinations, I would consult the nearest experiment station. I have had occasion to consult experiment stations, from New Jersey to Wisconsin, on various subjects, and in every instance have met with prompt and valuable--and sympathetic--assistance. “The soil must have lime; either as one of its natural constituents, or lime must be added. If the soil is deficient, then the lime must be incorporated with the soil some months before seeding. “The land must have efficient drainage, either natural, or, as in the case of clay and heavy clay loams, artificial. “The land must be fertile to a depth of at least nine inches. Beyond that depth the taproot in its search for water will take care of itself.” Another writer, impressed by practices he regards as reprehensible, enumerates them as follows: “Don’t sow any nurse crop. “Don’t sow on freshly plowed land, no matter how carefully prepared. “Don’t let weeds or grass grow over six inches high without clipping. “Don’t clip or mow when wet with rain or dew. “Don’t let alfalfa stand; if turning yellow, cut it. “Don’t sow old seed. “Don’t sow less than twenty pounds per acre, one-half each way.