Alfalfa in New York. 405 



Lucern and Clover on Clay. 



" This cut only twice, the second time the 20th of August; the 

 product at both cuttings three tons to the acre. The first crop 

 was much injured by the cattle breaking in and by its being 

 lodged. The lucern among the clover is now fit to cut a third 

 time, but having been sown thin it will not make a crop alone, 

 and the clover is too short to be worth cutting; but the after-grass 

 is so fine as to be adequate to all the expenses attending the two 

 first crops, so that three tons of hay or £7 10s. may be considered 

 as the net profit upon this acre." 



Lucern Sown with Turnips, 'August, 1793. 



" I expressed my fears that this lucern would hardly live through 

 the winter; however, I was agreeably disappointed. Early in the 

 spring, though the plants were small, and, as I thought, much too 

 far apart, yet, as the season advanced, they shot forward very 

 luxuriantly, and this piece has been cut three times with that sown 

 with barley. Although sown nearly four months later the first 

 crop was nearly equal to the barley sown, the second and third 

 much superior to it, so that its acreable produce may be stated at 

 four tons. Its future product will be greater than any I have, 

 as it is perfectly even, without any vacant spots, and uninjured by 

 the clover which I sowed with my other crops. 



" The introduction of a new plant is liable to so many diffi- 

 culties from ill management and prejudice, that I think it im- 

 portant still to continue the register of my experiments at the 

 risk even of tiring the patience of the society. 



" I remember the avidity with which I read everything that I 

 could find on the subject, before I began my own experiments, 

 and I remember too, how much all I read fell short of my wishes 

 in many particulars, which I am now able to elucidate for the 

 benefit of others." 



In 1794, he sowed seven plots, as follows: 



Experiment No. 1. 



September, 1793, plowed up four acres oats-stubble, soil a 

 lio-ht loam — 1791-1792 in clover, manured with gypsum; 1793, 

 in oats, yield very great — about 54 bushels to the acre. 



April, 1794, plowed twice. May 1st, sowed two acres with 

 barley and 35 pounds of lucern seed, which I covered by the 

 roller. 



