HABIT OF GROWTH. 95 



the land and re-seeding. Liberal fertilizing is done 

 each year and thus quite heavy crops of hay are 

 grown, although it has been learned that the alfalfa 

 will not go through a second winter, the roots de- 

 caying about 6" below the surface. Doubtless the 

 acidity of the subsoil is responsible in large measure 

 for this result. If large amounts of lime could be 

 applied to the surface just before plowing and thus 

 turned under in direct contact with the sour sub- 

 soil, in time even this land could be made to carry 

 alfalfa more than one year. It is interesting and 

 useful, however, to know that the alfalfa pays well 

 to be resown each year when this is necessary. 



Essentials in Culture. Alfalfa is no Laodicean. 

 When it is healthy it is one of the happiest plants 

 in the world', and when diseased one of the feeblest 

 and most miserable. Fortunately making it healthy 

 is pretty easy; it speaks in no uncertain tones and 

 makes its wants known. The writer frequently takes 

 a walk to the village aJong an old railway embank- 

 ment, made in large part from limestone gravel, sur- 

 faced with that and with limestone screenings from 

 the crusher. The clay in it is of limestone formation. 

 It could not be said that this soil was exceptional in 

 any way except that it is thoroughly drained, and 

 has in it much lime. Scattered alfalfa plants grow 

 along this embankment. For years they have grown 

 and seeded there. They are beautifully green and 

 vigorous plants and they never seem to get old. The 

 writer, wandering down the railway line reflects, 

 "Why, here these plants in themselves tell all that 



