PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 299 



north where the snow falls before the ground freezes 

 and remains until the opening of spring, this plant can 

 be grown successfully. Farther south where the changes 

 are less severe, the same is true. In Colorado and other 

 places where irrigation is practiced, if it is desired to get 

 rid of a field of alfalfa, the ground is flooded after it is 

 frozen and the freezing of water over the surface accom- 

 plishes what is desired. In Rhode Island it not infre- 

 quently happens that we have in winter a considerable 

 fall of snow. A warm southeasterly rain may fall which 

 transforms it very shortly to slush. In a few hours 

 the temperature may drop to zero or below. Sometimes 

 rain which falls freezes over the surface, forming a solid 

 coating. These conditions in this state destroy the alfalfa 

 just as the flooding does it in the West, and while alfalfa 

 may be carried successfully through the winter, if the 

 season is favorable, I believe the chances are too great 

 to make it a promising crop. Last winter we carried 

 some through successfully and have done so once or twice 

 before, but my advice to Rhode Island farmers is to 

 grow the clovers, soy beans, and possibly cowpeas rather 

 than attempt to embark in growing alfalfa until it has 

 been definitely shown by experiment that the climate 

 and other conditions can be successfully combated. 



SOUTH CAROLINA 



Prof. C. L. Newman, Agriculturist South Carolina 

 experiment station. — We have, to some extent, had re- 

 markable success with alfalfa. On the old exposition 

 grounds at Charleston, over six tons of cured hay were 

 cut last year on one acre. This year one cutting afforded 



