EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS 



257 



* This was at two cattings, at one of which the fodder was wet with rain, 

 ting 'one-third was deducted for water. 



From the weight of this cut- 



The above shows a total yield on this part of the field of nearly five 

 tons of hay per acre for the season from the four cuttings. 



As further evidence that alfalfa requires good land, the following let- 

 ter is presented from Mr. J. W. Pennel, of Grand Rapids, Mich. Mr. 

 Pennel has sown a large amount of alfalfa seed during the past two 

 years on sandy soil near the city mentioned. He says: "My experience 

 with alfalfa on my soil is that where the ground is in a high state of cul- 

 tivation it does well, but where the ground is lean it takes too long for 

 it to get to be a paying crop. I sowed most of mine with winter wheat. 

 Where the ground had been manured it got large enough to mow this 

 fall. Last year after wheat harvest I plowed my door yard and sowed 

 it to alfalfa in August. This year we mowed the piece three times. 

 Where the ground is rich I think alfalfa a very paying crop, but where 

 the ground is poor I prefer other clovers and grasses." 



QUESTIONS ON ALFALFA. 



The status of alfalfa, either as a forage or fertilizing crop, in Mich- 

 igan, is far from being settled. A considerable amount of the seed has 

 been sown during the past two or three years, owing to the failure of 

 clover, but reports as to the results are quite conflicting. There is 

 evidently lack of information in many cases as to the best methods of 

 managing the crop, so that many unnecessary failures have occurred. 

 Below are a number of inquiries that have been received regarding this 

 plant, following which is given a condensed abstract of our replies. 



Sholes & Downer, North Branch: Will you kindly let us know what 

 experience you have had with alfalfa this summer, and whether you 

 think we will be able to do anything with it in this State? 



J. M. Halstead, Bay City: I, like others, have lost my clover and feel 

 like inquiring for something to take its place. Have you any work on 

 Lucerne? If so I would be glad to get it or to get your opinion of its 

 success in the Saginaw Valley. 



B. J. Hansner, Ypsilanti: I have a piece of sandy ground that is now 

 in wheat that I intended to seed to clover this spring. How do you think 

 alfalfa would do in our part of the country? Would it be a good way 

 to sow it in the spring on wheat and drag it in? 



Thomas W. Harris, Wayne: Can I sow alfalfa on my rye ground, 

 and can I sow it with timothy on oat ground with any hope of success? 

 How much ought to be sown to the acre on light sandy soil? 

 33 



