72 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Oc^. 



There are two materials called lime, and they come to us in 

 three forms. One material is dolomite, which is a mai^nesian- 

 calcium carbonate. I believe that when we fully understand the 

 the lime problem, we shall have learned that the magnesium lime 

 is not to be used for alfalfa. Hall says the English farmers 

 learned years ago that the dolomite is not good for repeated 

 applications. Do not misunderstand me. Magnesian lime will 

 neutralize acids as readily as pure calcium lime, but I do not 

 believe that the neutralization of acids is all that there is to liming 

 for alfalfa, nor do I believe that sweetening the soil is half that 

 there is to liming for alfalfa. I believe that calcium* is a very 

 necessary plant food for alfalfa, and hence well worth feeding the 

 plant in abundance. 



Lime comes to us in three forms,— caustic or burned, hydrated 

 or slaked and in the form of ground limestone. Only unburned, 

 ground limestone is to be recommended for applying immediately 

 before sowing alfalfa. Burned lime is believed to be injurious to 

 the alfalfa bacteria. Hydrated lime is but little better. Moreover, 

 these forms are hard on the men who handle them, while ground 

 calcium limestone is believed to be beneficial to men, especially 

 men of weak lungs. 



Of course where one has to pay freight on a long haul, and 

 where one can apply the burned lime some months preceding the 

 planting of the alfalfa, it may pay to use burned limestone. 



Use Good, Acclimated, Northern Grown Seed. 



Our people get the best results by using 30 pounds of seed to 

 an acre. That should be too much. There are places where men 

 have used as Httle as 6 quarts (12 pounds) with timothy and 

 clover. In time the timothy and clover disappeared, the alfalfa 

 survived and made a good stand that yielded three or more tons 

 per acre. Twenty pounds to an acre should be enough, providing 

 we use a disk drill and use good seed. But good seed is hard to 

 to get. I fear that the seed houses palm off on the eastern farmers 

 entirely too much of the Asiatic seed. I fear that at times farmers 

 are led to believe that the Turkestan seed is superior. Then, too, 

 I fear that entirely too much southern grown seed finds its way 

 this far north. 



Your State requires good seed, from plants that have been 



