DAIRY MIjr^TlNG. 189 



I think this association should lend its encouragement to those 

 men who are striving to be pioneers in the growing of alfalfa. 



Dr. Raymond Pearl. — I do not know much about alfalfa 

 but I would endorse what Dr. Merrill has said. It seems to 

 me from what we know of the plant now, that there is no reason 

 why it cannot be grown here, if we get the right kind of seed 

 and learn how to grow it. 



It seems to me that the important step at the beginning is to 

 make an effort to grow the seed in the state where it is raised. 

 I think that Mr. Rose of Bath, instead of buying seed should 

 make every effort to save seed from his own plants. The best 

 seed is that which is acclimatized. 



A very important matter in growing alfalfa is the selection 

 of seed. The best alfalfa grown in this country in the north- 

 ern regions is the Grimm, grown in Minnesota, which came 

 from chance seed brought from Germany, and has established 

 itself and grows there without difificulty. 



Explorers of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 are sending into this country alfalfa seed from Siberia. It is 

 grown there under conditions harder than they are in this State. 

 Anyone interested in growing alfalfa in this State should get 

 into communication with Dr. Piper of the United States Agri- 

 cultural Department, and he will, so far as the supply admits, 

 be glad to send samples of Siberian alfalfa seed to try out in 

 this State. After it is established they should save seed from 

 the plants grown here in Maine. 



Mr. G. E. Barnes. — It seems to me that if a few farmers 

 who are interested in growing alfalfa would meet and agree 

 to sow it on different kinds of ground and keep the seed, it 

 would help to find out the kind of soil we need to raise alfalfa 

 and whether it can be successfully raised or not. We should 

 get the seed from some climate as near like ours as possible. 

 I am ready to sow an acre. 



Mr. Redman. — This past summer I had occasion to visit 

 many farms in Michigan and in Ontario. I found the climatic 

 conditions and the soil about the same as in Maine. I believe 

 we can raise alfalfa in Maine when' we get ready to do it. 



I am very glad to see this discussion come up here, for I 

 believe we need the plant in the State, and here is the place to 

 do something for it. 



