122 ALFALFA 



grow throughout any period of drouth that we may 

 have. It thrives rather better in the spring and fall or 

 winter in this climate than in midsummer with its 

 rains, which usually bring up a large quantity of crab- 

 grass with it. During the winter we cut it generally 

 twice, unless we have an unprecedented freeze. It 

 grows throughout the entire winter, affording two cut- 

 tings during the winter season. I,ast year we had sev- 

 eral patches that were overrun temporarily with- army- 

 worms, but we soon disposed of them, and since that 

 time they have caused no trouble. Of late a large 

 number of cutworms have appeared in the fields in 

 north I^ouisiana, and our entomologist, after examina- 

 tion, reported that parasites had begun to attack the 

 worms and that the field would soon be clear. His 

 predidlion came true, and we have heard nothing 

 about them since early spring. I see no reason why 

 alfalfa cannot be pastured" successfully, but we do not 

 consider it economical to do this, since we can very 

 quickly cut enough for a large stable for one day. Its 

 value is so great that we are selling all the hay that 

 we can make here at the station (and our neighbors 

 are doing the same) at $15 per ton baled. In Shreve- 

 port it is worth $11 to $12 per ton." 



MAINE 



Charles D. Woods, diredlor of the Maine station, 

 says alfalfa is a failure in Maine, as it will not stand 

 the severe winters. It was tried repeatedly fifteen to 

 twenty years ago on all kinds of soil and under all 

 conditions, and he presumes that it has been tried a 

 great many times in late years, but, if so, without 

 succesg. He says there is no difficulty in making it 



