152 ' AI<FAI,PA 



farm that grows vigorously and seems to thrive well on 

 our sandy river-bottom soils. It has been known to 

 make a yield of two to two and one-half tons of cured 

 hay. Of course, we appreciate its feeding value very 

 thoroughly. It is somewhat difficult to establish a 

 stand in this climate, I understand, but there is no 

 reason why it should not succeed well, especially on 

 our ' second bottom ' lands, and I have every reason to 

 believe it will. We will commence extensive experi- 

 ments soon to determine a number of points. On a 

 neighboring farm there is a very healthy, vigorous 

 crop of alfalfa on second bottom-land similar to ours. 

 When it has been tried on the heavy red clay of the 

 state I believe it has failed in some instances. We 

 can, of course, appreciate the reason why. In other 

 instances where it has failed I believe it largely due to 

 a lack of preparation of the soil and seed-bed. Most 

 of the soils of Tennessee have been farmed in a one- 

 crop rotation until all the humus has been exhausted. 

 In many other instances the land has been washed 

 very badly. This has taken all the fiber and life out 

 of it, and the result is there is not sufficient vitality in 

 the soil to produce a good crop of alfalfa. When green 

 crops are plowed under on these lands, as cow-peas, 

 and lime and other fertilizers judiciously used, they 

 produce immense crops, and we think that when they 

 are treated in this way and a fine seed-bed prepared 

 that they will produce magnificent crops of alfalfa. 

 Alfalfa will afford two cuttings easily per year in this 

 sedlion of Tennessee. I do not know of any alfalfa 

 fields being pastured. Our climate might be termed 

 humid through three-fourths of the season. We 

 generally have a drouth through part of July, August, 



