the original investment and decreases the labor in feeding and brooding 

 seventy-five per cent. (Bulletin 246). 



(5) A large number of labor-saving and sanitary poultry appli- 

 ances have been invented and given to the public, among which are 

 indoor and outdoor feed-hoppers, a combination refrigerator crate for 

 eggs and dressed poultry, watering devices, trap nest, etc. (Bulletin 

 248). 



(6) Improved types of poultry houses have been adapted to New 

 York State conditions as a result of experiments with different types of 

 houses. (Eeading-Course Bulletins 16 and 33, and Circulars 1 and 3). 



Alfalfa on sterile hill lands. The College farm consists largely of 

 a heavy, tenacious soil known as Dunkirk clay loam. This is a type of 

 soil that has been regarded as especially unsuited for alfalfa- growing. 

 About 1903, a study was begun to ascertain whether it is possible to grow 

 alfalfa on this soil, and if so, what treatment of the crop is necessary to 

 secure success. An acre of land was fitted and seeded in the summer of 

 1906. Harvests have been secured from it during the three succeeding 

 seasons. In 1907, the yield from one acre was 3 tons and 1500 pounds 

 of well-cured hay ; in 1908, 3 tons and 500 pounds ; in 1909, 6 tons and 

 360 pounds, a total of 13 tons and 360 pounds for the three years. 



During this period alfalfa hay has varied in price from fifteen to 

 twenty-one dollars per ton. Figuring at the minimum price per ton, the 

 cash value of the three seasons' product of one acre of land was $197.70. 

 Since the season of seeding there has been no labor or expense for fer- 

 tilizer given this land except in the harvesting of the crop. 



There has been expended for labor, lime, manuring and seed about 

 fifty dollars per acre. This, of course, is a large expenditure in getting 

 the crop started, but when it is considered that no further expense is in- 

 curred, except the harvesting, for a series of eight to fifteen years, and 

 with fair prospects of the average yields as they have been in the past, 

 it will be seen that this experiment demonstrates that there is a great 

 opportunity for financial success in growing alfalfa on this type of soil, 

 notwithstanding the natural difficulties to be met. 



It is demonstrated by this experiment that to secure successful 

 alfalfa crops on Dunkirk clay loam, a very common type of soil over 

 about one-third of the State, it is necessary #iat the land shall be well 

 manured the season of sowing, dressed with lime and inoculated by 

 means of soil from an old alfalfa field. 



The use of lime. Investigations indicate that in the neighborhood 

 of 75 per cent, of the farm land will respond profitably to the use of 



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