' Vermont Dairymen's Association. 119 



possible ; manured it heavily with sheep manure, as heavy as I 

 could plow in. 



Q. Did that foreign seed stand the winter better than the 

 native ? 



A. Not any better only it started a great deal faster and 

 grew faster through the season and blossomed earlier than the 

 native. I do not think there was any difiference in the amount 

 of the crop. 



O. Was the native seed furnished by the government. 

 A. No. 



Q. You don't know whether it was northern grown? A. 

 No, I do not know where it grew. I had an idea that it came from 

 California. I had the most wonderful crop of poppies you ever 

 saw, the field was one mass of poppies wdiere I sowed the native 

 seed. I would not try to sow it on poor ground. I should want 

 a soil thoroughly cultivated to make first class seed, and when 

 yO'U get it started it is pretty hard stuff to kill, after you once 

 get it started. 



O. Would it be desirable to sub soil? A. That would all 

 depend upon the soil you were trying to grow it on. I do not 

 think it would. 



The president :- — This is very interesting but we shall be 

 obliged to cut the discussion short, as we have with us a gentleman 

 from the state of Maine, who says he has enjoyed these meetings 

 thoroughly and has found them very helpful, and now he will 

 help us by speaking to us for a short time. I am glad to in- 

 troduce Mr. C. C. Thompson, Dairy Instructor of Winterport, 

 Me. 



Mr. Thompson : — Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen : — T 

 know you would all a great d^eal rather hear the discussion in 

 regard to alfalfa than what I may have to say to you at this time. 

 T have no paper prepared and shall only give you a few ideas 

 tliat have occurred to me since I came to your city. We are in- 

 terested in the state of Maine in the question of alfalfa. We are 

 interested because so far we have not been able to cultivate it. 

 We hope to find some way whereby we can cultivate it in the 

 future. Tf I can only get anything from your society that will 

 lead our people to cultivate, or at least try, a little piece of alfalfa, 

 if I can get some of th.ese ideas which they will be willing to 

 take hold of, T am certain that the dairy question in our state 

 will be a great deal improved. T don't want to take any of your 

 time this morning. I want to hear Prof. ITills, whom we have 

 had the ]:)leasure of hearing up our way and feel he is the best 

 man we have ever had doing institute work, and since we have 



