No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 379 



by sowing eight pounds to the acre, as I can with fifteen provided 

 the field is in condition to receive that clover — in good condition. 



The CHAIR: Any further discussion on this question? It seems 

 to me, Doctor, that alfalfa certainly ought to grow where we can 

 grow a good crop of crimson clover. We find our neighbors are 

 having lots of trouble to grow alfalfa after crimson clover. 



DR. THAYER: 0^, yes, the crimson has no function really to it 

 except to nourish the soil. 



MR. HERR: Prof. Cooke does not give us much encouragement 

 unless we have a very dry soil. The long-rooted alfalfa does not 

 nourish well in water. He tiiinks the ground is scarce that is 

 adapted to its culture wher-^, if we dig a post-hole four feet deep, 

 water will not settle. 



DR. THAYER: Recent experiments show that clay soil is best. 



MR. CLARK: What are the conditions of these alfalfa fields at 

 the present time? 



MR. HUTCHISON: I can hardly answer that question. A neigh 

 bor near me raised a crop last year, but I paid more attention to it 

 the first year, because it was an experiment and a successful one. 



The SECRETARY: Before contracting with Mr. Wing to prepare 

 a bulletin upon the production of alfalfa, I invited correspondence 

 from farmers all over the State of Pennsylvania. I asked them to 

 let me know whether they were raising alfalfa; and I received* 

 answers from a number of farmers in different sections of the 

 State stating that they had tried it, and that they had been fairly 

 successful. I remember, from the county of Westmoreland, a reply 

 from a gentleman out north of Mount Pleasant, who is cashier of 

 the Farmers' National Bank. 



MR. CLARK: Mr. Muilin? 



The SECRETARY: No, that is not the man; it was some man out 

 north of town, north of those churches; I can't tell his name. He 

 said to me that his experiment had proven very successful; and 

 so all over the State we have reports of men here and there, stating 

 that they are meeting with success in the production of alfalfa in 

 a small way. 



MR. NELSON: The subject of clover is interesting because it 

 brings out a great many points that do not seem to be understood. 

 No clover seed will make a perfect crop on new land up our way until 

 about the third crop. Professor Cooke could not understand that. 

 If the Doctor can give us any points on that, I would like to have . 

 it brought out. Is it not possible that there is something lack 

 ing in the ground that prevents its germinating? 



DR. THAY^ER: I recommend that the seed be obtained from the 

 Northwest, from Dakota, Nebraska or, as a last resort, Utah. 



The SECRETARY: I would like to inquire whether the sweet 



