1 88 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



found in one of our fields two or three alfalfa plants. Three 

 oi four years later we plowed the field up and bought some 

 seed of a local dealer and sowed alfalfa on it. It lived all 

 right, and we have some that is still growing. We cut it in 

 haying time and it was three feet high, and then again the first 

 of September, and it was 28 or 30 inches high. It was not 

 thick on the field, but scattered around in bunches a few feet 

 apart. We do not see any reason why it cannot be raised. 

 I don't know where the seed came from that was there. Our 

 seed came from Montana. 



Q. What kind of land did it grow on? 



A. Almost any kind ; some gravel and some clay. We ob- 

 tained our seed through a local dealer in Bath. We bought 

 this spring what he had, about 200 pounds. We tested it and 

 about one-third of it would grow. We have about 2^ acres 

 plowed and will send west for more seed. All that we put on 

 the land was some chemicals we mixed ourselves. We did not 

 use any lime. We jiiixed our seed as we would with any 

 clover. 



Q. Did you cut it before it blossomed? 



A. Before it was in full blossom. 



Q. Did you ever let any of it set seed? 



A. None to amount to anything. There were a few plants 

 where we cut the second crop. We did not gather it, but let 

 it seed itself. The roots where we plowed were as big around 

 as your finger and were tough to plow. We took up a plant 

 a few years ago and sent it to the Experiment Station and they 

 said there were some of the bacteria tubercles on the roots. 



Dr. Merrill. — This subject was introduced into the pro- 

 gram to set people thinking. We have those in our State who 

 are making progress in raising alfalfa. And the very fact that 

 personally I have seen alfalfa growing wild in Maine, and that 

 it has been growing there for years, convinces me it can be 

 grown in Maine. 



It is true that every man should not attempt to grow alfalfa. 

 If we did we would make many mistakes and retard the suc- 

 cessful growing of alfalfa in Maine. We have men who are 

 beginning to grow alfalfa and all they need to observe is cau- 

 tion. They need to secure good seed and follow the best 

 methods. 



