128 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1904. 



in Aroostook county. The seed used was specially procured by 

 the United States Department of Agriculture from the cold 

 mountainous regions of Turkestan and had been inoculated 

 with alfalfa bacteria. Root tubercles have developed abund- 

 antly on all the plots. Care was taken to select land that seemed 

 to be naturally well adapted to alfalfa as to soil, subsoil and 

 drainage. It was thoroughly prepared and a good stand and 

 growth was for the most part obtained. The sowing was light 

 (15 pounds of seed to the acre) so as to grow seed for further 

 work if the plants should survive the first winter. All the land 

 was well fertilized, part of it was limed and part treated with 

 ashes. Part of the seed was broadcasted and part sown in 

 drills. That in drills was kept free from weeds by hand wheel 

 hoe and hand work. The broadcast portions were cut whenever 

 the weeds seemed to endanger the alfalfa. The drilled has 

 grown much better than the broadcast and at the cutting in 

 August, the drilled gave on all the plots nearly a ton of rather 

 undercured alfalfa hay. 



In order to be of much value to Maine agriculture, alfalfa 

 must be able to stand not one, but several winters. The Station 

 does not advise anyone to grow alfalfa at present in Maine, 

 unless in a small experimental way. Next spring the Station 

 hopes to have a limited amount of Montana grown seed, from 

 the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington. 

 This will probably prove as hardy as the Turkestan seed. So 

 far as the amount received will allow, the Station will supply 

 enough seed for an eighth of an acre on condition that the 

 cultural instructions will be followed and the results reported 

 to the Station. 



