PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 279 



NEW HAMPSHIRE 



Prof. Frederick W. Taylor, Agriculturist New Hamp- 

 shire experiment station. — We have tried to secure a 

 stand of alfalfa for four consecutive seasons, but so far 

 our efforts have been unsuccessful. Various types of soil, 

 from a heavy boulder clay to a light sandy loam, have 

 been tried, and, contrary to our expectations, the most 

 promising crop was on ihe heavy clay soil. Our chief 

 difficulty has been in having the alfalfa keep ahead of the 

 weeds and in getting a uniform catch that would with- 

 stand our winters. From one-fourth to one-half of the 

 plants have usually wintered over in good condition and 

 made a vigorous growth the next season, but there has 

 not been enough of them to say that we have made a 

 success with alfalfa. We have largely eliminated the seed 

 question by plowing the ground early and keeping it har- 

 rowed until about the middle of July, when it is sown. 

 Our experience seems to indicate that an application of 

 lime is beneficial, if not absolutely necessary, in this sec- 

 tion and we have accordingly been using it at the rate of 

 a ton to the acre. We have also tried inoculation with 

 the various cultures, but in no case have any benefits been 

 observed. So far as we know, there have been no suc- 

 cessful attempts to grow alfalfa on a medium or large 

 scale in this state, although several farmers in the Con- 

 necticut river valley have reported success on some areas 

 of an acre or less. When we more thoroughly under- 

 stand the plant, and the conditions necessary for its 

 growth, we believe it can be grown upon some of our 

 soils. 



