326 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



acre, will be prolitabk'. The addilioii of linn,;, wbicli will m.-uti-alize 

 the acid and thus favor the work of the soil bacteria, will render the 

 mineral elements of fertility more available, rend(?r the soil more 

 friable and feed the plant direct. In many soils lime will be in- 

 dispensable; in all it will be highly profitable. 



The production of alfalfa has greatly interested dairymen since 

 learning its value as a protein food, and the tonnage that can be 

 produced on a given area. So much has recently been written on the 

 subject that I give it the briefest mention. Alfalfa requires a gar- 

 den soil. The surface must be rich and fine and the subsoil porous, 

 easily permeable by the roots of the plant. The soil need not be 

 sandy nor the subsoil an open gravel. A rich, clay loam, without a 

 dense hard-pan will bring good results. The water level should be 

 at least seven or eight feet below the surface. The seed should be 

 sown as early in the spring as the soil can be put into first class 

 condition. Sow by itself twenty-five pounds to the acre and cover 

 with a light harrow or a weeder worked both w^ays. If the soil is 

 sandy or quite dry it should be rolled after seeding, following the 

 roller with a w^eeder. These conditions may all be furnished and a 

 perfect stand secured, and yet a failure result if the subsequent 

 treatment be neglected. In about six weks from the time of seed- 

 ing, the young plants wdll begin to show a blue blossom here and 

 there. Xow the mower miist be run over it and the plants clipped. 

 In another six weeks the operation must be repeated, and again the 

 third clipping at the end of the same period, and the clippings al- 

 lowed to remain on the stubble as a mulch. If the young plants are 

 allowed to run up and mature seed the crop will be ruined. The 

 clipping is Mecessary to prevent this, to give stronger root develop- 

 ment, and to check the growth of weeds that are especially destruc- 

 tive of the alfalfa during the first ycdr. The subsequent cuttings 

 of the plant for hay should occur at about the same periods. 



Though necessarily too brief to be of the greatest value, l am 

 glad to make this slight contribution to the study of a subject that 

 I find is greatly interesting the farmers of the State; an interest 

 that is full of promise, since it is growing more and more important 

 that, in largely increased quantities, we produce our own protein 

 feed and our niti-ogenous fertilizers. 



The CIIAIKMAN: These papers will all be subjects for discussion 

 after we get through with the numbers on the program, so any 

 questions you may have to ask, just hold them until after the 

 program for the evening is finished. 



The next number on the program is "How Plants Feed and Grow," 

 by Prof. R. L. Watts, of Scalp Level, Cambria county. Pa. 



Prof. Watts then presented his pn])(>r as follows: 



