89 

 Prof. James Troop, La Fayette, Ind. : 



It is naturalized here, but little cultivated. It is perfectly hardy on our black, 

 sandy loam, but yields no more than Timothy or clover. It will not last here mor' 

 than three or four years. 



Leonard A. Heil, of the Texas Live Stock Journal, San Antonio, 

 Tex.: 



Alfal fa has been successfully raised in this locality only by irrigation, which is practi- 

 cable to but a limited extent. There are those who claim that it can be successfully 

 grown with only the natural rains, but after careful investigation I seriously doubt 

 its practicability. 



James Perry, Whitesborongh, northeastern Texas : 



Alfalfa is a fair success in our black, waxy soil, and can be cut twice a year, yield- 

 ing 1 to 3 tons at a cutting. Broadcast sowing is the usual method, and seems 

 to be sufficient on clean land. It stands the drought well anvl the freeze of ordinary 

 winters. Three years ago, however, I had 7 acres badly killed by "spewing up" in 

 winter, but the scattering plants that remained are doing well. 



C. A. Graves, Fiskville, central Texas : 



It is cultivated here only to a small extent. It dies out in spots, just as*rotton, 

 sweet potatoes, and some other vegetables do, and apparently for the same unknown 

 reason. In some localities, the spots where it dies out cover one-fourth of the ground. 

 The uncertainty of moisture on and near the surface for any length of time, owing 

 to hot suns and drying winds, makes the catch from all seeds that germinate near 

 the surface uncertain. 



Dr. E. P. Stiles, Austin, Tex., says: 



Alfalfa is not permanent here. For two or three years it will produce good crops, 

 and then it begins to die out in circular patches. The spots increase in size until in 

 a year or two they become confluent. Cotton plants sometimes die in the same way, 

 and apple-trees put into such soil are subject to a sudden blight. I have never known 

 alfalfa to be killed by either cold or drought, but its growth is very slight in very 

 dry soil. In Green County it is grown quite successfully under irrigation, but it dies 

 in some localities there the same as here. 



J. E. Willett, Farmington, northwestern New Mexico: 



Alfalfa grows finely here, and yields so enormously that we want nothing bettor. 

 We cut it four times during the season, obtaining a ton and a half of hay at each cut- 

 ting. We raise nothing hero except by irrigation. As soon as the crop is taken off, 

 we turn on the water in many places at once and flood the land for several days, for 

 Alfalfa requires an abundance of water, notwithstanding the fact that land which 

 is low and wet will not answer. It flourishes on rock uplands that are very poor, but 

 must have plenty of water at the right time. The soil is filled with large, long roots, 

 reaching as deep as 20 feet. 



George H. Jones, Naranjos, northwestern New Mexico : 



It grows well without irrigation after the second or third year on any ordinary 

 soil, and yields very satisfactory results where properly put in. I know one pie 

 which has stood eight years and still yields well. 



A. L. Siler, Eanch, Utah : 



I know Lucerne patches that have stood for twenty-four years, and they are as 

 productive as when first planted. It does well with irrigation on any } 

 yielding 4 to 6 tons per acre. Without irrigation it would produce nothing. 



