The Question Box. 75 



two feet of soil over the rock, but the alfalfa grows all the same. 

 Men who were quarrying stone near-by found alfalfa roots IS feet 

 long in the crevices of the rocks. Our alfalfa meadows produced 

 four crops, last year, while our red clover was ruined by drouth. 

 Wo did not even cut it. We never used any lime in our town as a 

 dressing until we began using it for sweetening the soil before 

 sowing alfalfa. It not only sweetens an acid soil, but helps to re- 

 lease locked-up fertility. If you have not experimented with 

 alfalfa, begin with a small piece of it. Fit the ground as 

 well as for onions. Sow at the rate of 25 to 30 pounds of seed 

 per acre, and then await results. If it succeeds, sow more. 



Question. — Would it be advisable to seed with alfalfa on low, 

 sandy land, which has a clay subsoil ? 



Mr. Smith. — It would depend on the condition of the soil. If 

 there is free water — subsoil water — present, alfalfa will not 

 grow. Its best home is on land which has an underlying strata of 

 lime rock. In some parts of Onondaga and Madison counties, it is 

 the best hay crop. We prepare our soil by making it very fine and 

 sow the seed — 30 pounds to the acre, using a wheelbarrow seeder 

 — which broadcasts the seed. JSio other crop is sown with it ; all 

 the ground being given up to the alfalfa. About May 15 to 20, 

 with us, is the proper season to sow the seed. The first season we 

 run the mower over the field and cut down the whole mass - — - weeds 

 and all, when it is about a foot high. The last cutting we save 

 for hay. 



Mr. Smith. — At what stage do you cut it ? 



Answer. — Just as it begins to blossom. 



Question. — How do you cure it ? 



Answer. — We cut it after the dew is off; allow it to wilt a little, 

 then put up in large cocks over which we spread canvas covers. 

 The cocks are allowed to remain three or four days, when they are 

 opened up, allowed to dry out a little, and are then put into the 

 barn. 



Question. — How long will it remain in the soil ? 



Mr. Smith. — We have one field of it on the Geneva Station farm 

 that is 13 vears old, in good condition now. 



Question. — Will alfalfa " catch " and make a good growth if 

 sown with oats in the spring on a thin sandy land ? 



Mr. Smith. — No, nor on a good soil, if sown with oats. It is a 

 tender, feeble-growing plant at first and must have the best con- 

 ditions to give it a start. Make the ground rich ; do not sow 

 anv other seed with it. Give it the whole use of the ground, and 



