288 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



not occur on alfalfa fields. I am certain alfalfa can be 

 more extenvsively and economically grown here." 



H. B. Fullerton, Long Island. — As an experiment, an 

 acre of scrub-oak, waste land was cleared and the brush 

 and stumps burned in November, 1905. About 2,000 

 pounds of wood ashes were applied and turned under at 

 once. In April about ten tons of manure was applied 

 so that each quarter acre would have about 2,500 pounds. 

 Three weeks later 400 pounds of kainit were applied and 

 ten days later 200 pounds of Canada wood ashes. Since 

 the soil, when tested, still showed acidity, about 400 

 pounds more of ashes were spread, chiefly because of its 

 high percentage of vegetable lime, 40 per cent. The lime 

 of ashes on Long Island soils is considered superior to 

 that of stone or shells. Early in June the test acre, 

 being considered ready, was finally prepared and sown 

 to alfalfa in two directions crosswise over each quarter 

 acre. In less than a week the plants appeared evenly on 

 all four plots. Showery weather continued from before 

 seeding until well into June. One of the quarter acre 

 plots sown with a dressing of 150 pounds of soil from 

 an old alfalfa field at Fayetteville, N. Y., early took 

 the lead in color and vigor and about six weeks from 

 sowing could be readily distinguished at a distance by 

 the richness of its foliage. It was also in flower before 

 the other plots, one of which was uninoculated, the other 

 two sown with inoculated seed. Unfavorable weather 

 prevented cutting until mid-August when all four plots 

 were cut, the few large weeds were removed and the 

 alfalfa weighed. The plot inoculated with alfalfa soil 

 yielded 1673 green pounds which cured to 701 dry; the 



