EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



■22:i 



In 1897, not discouraged by former reverses, farther sowings of alfalfa were 

 made. On some very light sand some seed of the variety called sand lucerne was 

 sown. A good catch was secured. The yields of this acre in successive years 

 were as follows:, In 1898, 6,800 pounds; 1899, 10,000 pounds; 1900, pastured; 

 1901, 13,839 pounds; 1902, 12,034 pounds; 1903, 5,820 pounds. 



The plot was plowed up in the spring of 1904, June grass having crowded the 

 alfalfa so far that few plants were left. 



In the years between 1897 and 1901, alfalfa was sown both on the strip reserved 

 for new and peculiar plants, called the "Curiosity Strip" and on other parts of the 

 station grounds. It was observed that in nearly every case, on a majority of the 

 plants, nodules were present. In no case was artificial inoculation used, nor was 



Alfalfa roots showiig norm.ol nodules, small and near 

 large roots. 



Peculiar nodulea on Alfalfa roots, in groups and distant from 

 large roots, on small rootlets. 



soil brought from a former alfalfa field to the new plot. It is possible that the 

 germs were carried on the seed or were already, resident in the soil. In 1897, 

 for instance, a plot of alfalfa was sown on a distant field, number 14 erf the college 

 farm, fully a half mile from any other alfalfa or from any plot that had borne 

 alfalfa for many years, yet the roots were found to be well inoculated and have 

 remained so until date, 1905. In 1904 some clean seed was sown on an area in 

 field 6. In 1903 the field had borne vetches. The crop was not gathered but was 

 allowed to lie on the ground during the winter to be plowed under in the spring 

 of 1904, shortly before the alfalfa was sown. The accompanying cut shows the 

 abundance of the nodules and their peculiar grouping. No artificial inoculation 

 of either seed or soil was used. 



A study of the work accomplished with alfalfa and the lessons to be drawn 

 from the many tests on the station plots is reported in this bulletin. 



