DAIRY MEETING. II9 



that can be raised profitably. Try whatever crops you choose, 

 but as the basis of your farming keep cows, keep young stock, 

 keep some kind of stock so that you can turn back your rough- 

 age and keep your farm u}) to its present state of fertihty or 

 even improve it a Httle. And if you raise a money crop of 

 course you can buy fertihzer. 



Ques. How much alfalfa have you ever succeeded in raising 

 per acre? 



Ans. I cut it three times a year. The first crop comes before 

 the fourth of July. \\'hcn I find a blossom here and there and 

 find that it is beginning to head, I cut it. I try to cut it in the 

 afternoon and let it lie over until the next day, and rake it up 

 and bunch it. Then I let it lie three or four days, and simply 

 shake it in the bunch. We do not stir it at all, but shake it up 

 light and loose and let it stay until it is well made, and finally 

 open it enough to air it. The first crop will be a tremendous 

 crop; I do not know just how much but I cut a great deal more 

 than I do of herdsgrass or red clover and I am pretty success- 

 ful in raising both. The second crop will be materially reduced. 

 You will probably not get more than two-thirds as much, and 

 the third crop vv'ill be reduced from that, perhaps not quite half 

 as much as you cut the first time. It depends very much on the 

 season. If it is a nice summer and especially w^et, and your 

 ground is well drained, your last crop will be better than your 

 first. On wet and heavy soil of course you will find a great 

 deal of difficulty in carrying your alfalfa along and if you sow 

 it without lime you will not get any satisfaction out of it. If 

 I had a sandy or gravelly soil I would make it rich and cultivate 

 it thoroughly and would not allow a weed to grow on that 

 ground for two or three years and I think I could raise a tre- 

 mendous crop of alfalfa. Do not try to raise it in a large way, 

 gentlemen, do not take ten acres or five acres, but take half an 

 acre or a quarter of an acre, and when you understand the crop 

 and make up your mind wdiether you want it or not, then is the 

 time for you to branch out. There is no doubt in my mind that 

 the State of Maine is going to raise alfalfa. It is not coming 

 all in a minute : we want you to get used to it, and then I think 

 you can raise it. I do not care what your soil is, where you 

 are raising four or five tons to the acre you have to feed that 

 soil. You are taking the fertility out of the soil and you must 

 put something back. 



