254 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Alfalfa, — Alfalfa is a perennial plant, and once well established 

 will last a number of years, from four to ten, or more, depending 

 upon the cliaracter of the soil, and the treatment of the plant in ref- 

 erence to manuring and method of cutting. It grows well on varying 

 kinds of soil, providing the subsoil is open and porous; the most 

 favorable is a rich, somewhat sandy loam, warm and friable, with a 

 deep and loose or gravelly subsoil, well supplied with lime. A dense 

 clay or hardpan subsoil is most unfavorable. Although a rich soil 

 is preferable, alfalfa sometimes does well on poor, well-drained grav- 

 elly land. While the plant requires much water, it will not flourish 

 where the ground is saturated or flooded. The soil should receive 

 careful and thorough preparation — this is very important — in order 

 to secure a full stand. If the subsoil is hard and compact, the sub- 

 soil should be used. For the climate of Maine, I should recommend 

 experiments with the Turkestan variety. 



The first cut of alfalfa should be made just before it blossoms. 

 If left until in full bloom, the quality of the product is reduced; be- 

 sides, the plants are injured, and subsequent crops are smaller. In 

 good growing seasons the crop will reach the cutting stage in from 

 four to five weeks. This crop is not only one of the most useful for 

 soiling, but makes an excellent hay. The dry matter is very rich in 

 protein, having a nutritive ratio of 1 :4.3. As green forage or hay it 

 serves an excellent purpose on a dairy farm, since its use will ma- 

 terially reduce the need for purchased feeds. In other words, al- 

 falfa rations should include corn meal, or other starchy foods, thus 

 enabling the feeder to more fully utilize the carbonaceous crops of 

 the farm. Owing to its early development, its use for soiling fol- 

 lows in order, the rye and wheat; the first cutting last year began 

 on May 19. 



Crimson Clover . — Crimson clover is one of the most useful of our 

 forage crops from the standpoints of yield, composition and cost, 

 and the ease with which it may be secured. It is essentially a catch 

 crop. It may be seeded at the rate of twelve pounds per acre, in 

 corn or after a crop of early potatoes, without interfering with regu- 

 lar rotations. In fact, in New Jersey, corn and crimson clover crops 

 have been obtained the same year on the same land, and for a number 

 of years in succession. The corn and clover both improving in yield 

 from year to year, without heavy additions of manures or fertilizers. 

 It will, however, like all crops, make its best growth on good land. 

 It serves also, where soiling is not practiced, as an excellent pasture, 

 and may be also made into hay, though it is necessary that it should 

 be cut before the seed matures, owing to the danger that might fol- 

 low from the matured hulls forming a ball in the stomach. 



The yields will range from eight to twelve tons per acre. It is 

 more watery in its character than the crops already mentioned, as 



