300 r»tI{KAU OF FATniKRs' INSTITUTES. 



What is the dlfferonce between mammoth and pea vine clover? 



Mr. Converse. — I suppose what is meant by the queston is the 

 medium or mammoth variety. If so, I will say that I prefer the 

 medium to the mammoth, as it does not fall down so easily. 

 Besides, finer in stalk and is eaten more closely by the cattle 

 than is the larger variety. 



Mr. Cook. — We sow both mammoth and medium on our land. 

 I prefer the former. We sow at leasit three bushels of it to one 

 of the medium. 



Has anyone here had any experience in pasturing with alfalfa? 



Mr. Cook. — Alfalfa is being sown with success in many places. 

 It should be sown thickly so as to have a thick growth. The soil 

 should be deep, dry, well fitted, and the plant given the entire 

 use of the ground. The next season, from two to four cuttings 

 may be made. As to pasturing it, I will say that it may be done, 

 but there is danger of the animals' eating the plants so closely as 

 to injure the crowns. It is much better to mow and cure it for 

 hay; but it should be cut early, else it will become woody. It 

 should be cut the first time as early as June 6th to the 20th, and 

 again in July. When the seed is allowed to mature, the plant 

 is about worthless for hay. As many as four cuttings were made 

 at the Geneva Experiment Station, the soil being a deep clay loam, 

 well underdrained. There were more than 16 tons of green hay 

 in the four cuttings. If you will go to Geneva next summer you 

 will see the field and will be able to obtain full information con- 

 cerning it. I also think there has been a bulletin issued at the 

 station giving some results with it, but that was three or four 

 years ago. 



Who grows it here? 



A Farmer. — I have, but it has been a failure with me. Practi- 

 cally it was all gone in two years. It is not as good as the clover 

 here. 



Mr. Cook. — Have well prepared land and have it dry; then sow 

 30 pounds of seed per acre and give it the whole use of the land. 

 The critical period is its first winter. If it survives that, there 

 will not be any further trouble. I would try a small piece of it 

 to begin with. If you succeed with it, sow more. 



