150 ALFALFA 



RHODE ISLAND 



J. A. Tillinghast, of the experiment station at 

 Kingston, writes: "I think alfalfa has not been tried 

 suflSciently in our state to really determine whether it 

 is a success or failure. In experiments here we have 

 been fairly successful. The soil where grown was a 

 sandy loam. We found that the seed-bed should be 

 deep and thoroughly prepared. We seeded in May, 

 using a drill, and about fifteen pounds of seed to the 

 acre. The first year it was cut but once, at the time 

 of blossoming. The second year we made two cut- 

 tings. The yield seemed to be about like the ordinary 

 yield of clover with us, and we handled it and cured it 

 very nearly as we would a clover crop. As to perma- 

 nence, it seemed to be about the same as our red clover, 

 not winter-killing worse unless in places where water 

 stood and froze, forming ice. We had no trouble with 

 any particular enemies of the plant, with the exception 

 of dodder in small quantities. We did not experiment 

 with alfalfa as a feed, but I am inclined to think where 

 we can raise red clover to advantage I would prefer it 

 as a feed." 



SOUTH CAROLINA 



J. S. Newman, of the South Carolina Experiment 

 Station, says alfalfa succeeds there on well-drained, 

 fertile soil, with a dry subsoil. The preparation of 

 the seed-bed should be about the same as for turnips. 

 Ten pounds of seed per acre should be sown in drills, 

 so as to permit of cultivation, after each cutting for 

 the first year, especially. Three to six crops per year 

 are harvested, depending on the season, giving an 



