288 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



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



more extensively and economically grown here." ^ 



//, B. Fullerton, Long Island. — /Vs an experiment, an 

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

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



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 j 



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



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 i 



the lead in color and vigor and about six weeks from 1 



sowing could be readily distinguished at a distance by \ 



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



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



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 j 



yielded 1673 green pounds which cured to 701 dry; the ; 



