252 Bulletin 2t;j. 



Gross Weight of Total loss 



weight, alfalfa, in weight, Loss, 



ounces. ounces. ounces. per ct. 



June 20 470 433 



July 1 430 393 40 924 



July 22 404 367 66 15.24 



Aug. 2 402 365 68 15.70 



Sept. 26 403 366 67 15.47 



The weighing made September 26 was during a wet period when the 

 humidity was high. The hay appears to have reached its lowest weight 

 by August 2, just about seven weeks after it was put in the barn. That a 

 larger quantity placed in one pile in a barn would have lost its water so 

 rapidly is doubtful. The small quantity in a bag permits rapid drying, 

 but then this may check some other losses, which occur when the hay 

 " sweats." The variation in weight thus far is much smaller than occurs 

 with timothy. The loss being probably principally water will depend upon 

 the condition when taken from the field. 



SUMMARY 



I. Soil. — The observations and experience of the past two years con- 

 firm the opinion that there are large areas in New York suited to alfalfa 

 and also considerable areas upon which the crop is not likely to succeed. 

 The loamy soils with porous subsoils are best adapted and these are chiefly 

 located in the northern two-thirds of the State. The heavy soils, es- 

 pecially those having impervious clay or hardpan subsoils, are least 

 adapted and these constitute the bulk of the soils in the southern third of 

 the State. Usually creek or river bottom land if not subject to serious 

 overflow will produce alfalfa if skilfully managed. 



2. Inoct{Iatio)i necessary. — Outside of the districts where alfalfa 

 growing is already well established only six per cent of the cooperative 

 tests indicate no need of efforts to secure inoculation. In 63 per cent of 

 the cases no nodules at all were found. Certainly New York farmers 

 must look well after the matter of inoculation if they would secure 

 success with alfalfa, for without the alfalfa organism the crop does not 

 succeed in New York. 



3. Results with the cotton method of transporting alfalfa bacteria. — 

 During two seasons only one case of marked increase of vigor of alfalfa 

 plants has attended our efforts to inoculate the seed with bacteria secured 

 on cotton. Our own experience and the results of studies made at the 

 Geneva Station' (Geneva Bulletin No. 270) lead to the conclusion that 

 the cotton method is not sufficiently reliable to be of practical value. 



4. Inoculation by soil. — Extended experiments and observations lead 

 to the conclusion that where inoculation is needed and the conditions are 



