l86 AGRICUI.TURE; OF MAINE;. 



CAN ALFALFA BE RAISED IN MAINE ? 



By F. S. Adams, Bowdoinham, 



I have been connected with the Maine Dairymen's Association 

 in various ways ever since it was born, and, in fact, I was 

 present at the birth of the org^anization. It has always been the 

 custom at our meetings, so far as I know, for the officers to 

 assign subjects to members who have made a success of those 

 lines. Surely at this time they have departed from that cus- 

 tom, and have asked me to come here and tell you of my fail' 

 ures. 



I have realized, as you all have, that the alfalfa plant is a very 

 important food for all kinds of live stock. It is adapted to 

 feed all kinds of stock. The alfalfa plant itself is nearly a 

 balanced ration ; it contains about the right amount of protein 

 and carbohydrates. I think if we can raise it here in Maine 

 we shall make a long stride in advanced dairying. 



I understood that alfalfa to be grown successfully must have 

 some kind of bacteria. Some kinds of bacteria are all right; 

 we need some kinds; other kinds are all wrong. The bacteria 

 may be something like the inhabitants of this earth — some are 

 good fellows and some have no place on earth except to make 

 trouble. 



I was told that if I sent to New York and got some of the 

 earth where alfalfa is grown, it would contain the necessary 

 bacteria. I sent for it. It cost me about $5.00 delivered. I 

 selected a piece of land I thought adapted to alfalfa. I under- 

 stood it should be well drained for the best growth of this plant. 

 They told me that in Arizona the roots have gone down as far 

 as 12 feet, hunting for water. I selected a piece of land that 

 I thought would grow clover well; it is naturally well drained. 

 I went out one moonlight night (like the old deacon who drove 

 his trotting horse) and sowed on the alfalfa earth. This is the 

 first time I ever confessed this to anyone. I understood it was 

 necessary to have lime on the land. That I could put on in 

 the day time, for it is quite a custom for farmers to use lime. 

 I sent to one of the best seed firms and told them if they had 



