PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES ^49 



the 28th. The first cutting of nearly 8 tons of green 

 forage per acre was made nine weeks later. Thereafter 

 four additional cuttings were made that season, resulting 

 in a total yield of 21 tons of green forage per acre. This 

 plot remained in good profit, all told, for five years. An 

 adjoining plot seeded broadcast, grew into a \veed crop 

 the first year, but during four succeeding years w^as in 

 every respect the equal of its neighbor, the drilled plot. 

 Twenty similar experiments made during that year in as 

 many other sections of the state failed utterly. The dates 

 of seeding were in every instance subsequent to March 28, 

 but followed each other as rapidly as men could travel 

 from point to point, drilling the seed on w^ell and previ- 

 ously prepared soil. Two years later nine similar failures 

 resulted from spring seedmgs. Late summer is now the 

 time most frequently selected for alfalfa secdings, but 

 success is by no means invariably attained even then. 

 Liming has been of service in one five-acre test con- 

 ducted in Kent county, by W. H. Dickson in co-operatioii 

 with this station. The third trial withm four consecutive 

 years appears at present to be a complete success. The 

 first seeding gave a satisfactory stand, but the plants died 

 late in the following spring. The ground was limed that 

 summer, after thorough preparation of the seedbed. 

 Nitro-cultures from federal sources were used upon por- 

 tions of the seed, and 1000 pounds of soil per acre from a 

 successful alfalfa plantation were applied to the other 

 areas. This second seeding also failed. The five-acre 

 plot was then plowed, wheat was drilled and a fair crop 

 resulted. The wheat was harvested, lime was again used 

 after the seedbed had been prepared, and alfalfa seed sown 



