ALFALFA. 163 



The manurial treatment previous to the introduction of 

 alfalfa in these fields, and the kinds and amounts of materials 

 applied in preparation for the crop, have been given. Sub- 

 sequent fertilizer treatment has been as follows: — 



Field D. — From 1910 to 1912, inclusive, this was annually 

 top-dressed with bone meal at the rate of 600 pounds, and 

 muriate of potash at the rate of 200 pounds, per acre; and in 

 1913 the rate of top-dressing was basic slag meal 1,000 pounds, 

 muriate of potash 200 poimds, per acre. 



North Field. — This field received no top-dressing in either 

 1910 or 1911, but in 1912 and 1913 it was top-dressed with 

 basic slag meal at the rate of 1,000 pounds, and sulphate of 

 potash at the rate of 100 pounds, per acre. 



In both fields the alfalfa is now considerably mixed with 

 grasses, principally Kentucky blue grass and white clover. 

 The yield, however, on both is still very large, and as both 

 Kentucky blue grass and white clover rank exceptionally high 

 in nutritive value the quality of the hay, though not pure 

 alfalfa, is still much above the average in feeding value. An 

 effort has been made to diminish the proportion of grass and 

 check its spread in the North Field by thorough disking. 

 This operation was carried out in the summer of 1912, im- 

 mediately after the harvesting of the second crop. The 

 result was a very material improvement. 



Co-operative Experiments with Alfalfa 

 In Part I. of the tw^enty-third annual report the plans for 

 the co-operative experiments now to be discussed were fully 

 reported. These experiments were 33 in number. They were 

 quite evenly distributed throughout the State, and were located 

 on farms belonging to men especially recommended as well 

 fitted for such work. The experiment station furnished the 

 best obtainable seed. The soil was thoroughly prepared, the 

 seed was inoculated with Farmogerm ^ and sown in the late 

 summer of 1910. Three reports have been made by the farmers 

 co-operating in this work. 



The first of these reports was pubHshed in Part II. of the 

 twenty-fourth annual report. This had reference to the con- 

 ditions about the middle of May in 1911. Twenty-nine 



» See page 160. 



