i8o agriculture; of maine. 



Time does not allow a more detailed discussion of this phase 

 of the matter, although I assure you there are many other 

 important things which might be discussed in this connection. 



The second part of my subject, the purchase of feeds rich in 

 protein and their relation to the dairy, has been so fully pre- 

 sented in another paper at this meeting that I will leave this 

 and pass to the third question to be considered, — the sources of 

 nitrogen on the farm, and the uses the Maine dairymen should 

 make of them. 



I have already considered one source, the nitrogen found in 

 stable manure. The other source is that which can be produced 

 by the growing of certain crops, among these being those 

 belonging to the botanical family Leguminosse, the most com- 

 mon of which are the clovers, peas, beans, vetches, soy beans, 

 cow peas and alfalfa. 



We are not favored by climatic conditions as they are in the 

 South so that the most of these cannot be grown here. Cow 

 peas and soy beans are out of the question, alfalfa is as yet in 

 the experimental stage, and so far as I know, no one in this 

 state has been able to grow a field and have it get larger and 

 stronger each year for five, seven or ten years. Throwing all 

 doubtful crops out of consideration there are two, clover and 

 peas, belonging to this family, which thrive better and are easier 

 to grow in Maine than in any other state with which I am 

 familiar. 



It seems to me that this side of the question — the growing of 

 crops on the farm — is the most important phase of the whole 

 matter. The growing of clover or peas, besides furnishing 

 feed rich in protein for the dairy herd, has a direct relation, 

 through the tillage required, and the fertilizing value left in the 

 soil, to the fertility of the soil, future land values, the effect on 

 coming generations, and agricultural prosperity. 



The failures that have been recorded in attempts to grow 

 clover are due largely to a poor understanding of what the 

 conditions for its growth should be and attempts have been 

 made to produce it under conditions entirely unsuited to its 

 growth. The past twenty years have taught us that closely 

 related to the growth of clover and its power to improve the 

 soil is the life of numberless forms of microscopic organisms 

 in the soil. We have passed through that wave of excitement 



