/ 
88. i : eae 
fall and survived ‘the winter has iowa! but no roots have lived through the wee 
warm months of summer. I remember that in New Mexico, whenever it was desir- — 
able to destroy the alfalfa, in order to plow the ground, the surface was covered with. 
water daily for two weeks during the heat of summer. The United States consul 
at Lambayeque, Peru, states (United States Agricultural Report, 1377, p. 544) that 
it will not bear water, an abundant irrigation or inundation causing speedy death to 
the plant. The result.in this country has been the same. Alfalfa has invariably 
perished during the rainy months. All the clovers are affected the same way. 
Mr. Knapp incloses a letter from Dr. B. J. Taliaferro, of Maitland, 
Orange County, the only person in his knowledge who has been suc- 
cessful in growing alfalfa in that region. 
Dr. Taliaferro says: 
There is no doubt but that alfalfa can be successfully grown in south Florida. My 
old patch is now twelve months old, and has been cut five times. I am so pleased 
with it that I have just put in 5 acres more. The great difficulty is getting a 
good stand. If the ground is not just right the seed will fail. I have failed several 
times by sowing when the sun was too hot or not hot enough, or when the land was 
not sufficiently moist. From my short experience I think September is the best month 
in which to plant. If we plant early in the spring or summer it is almost impossible 
to keep the crab grass from taking it. I sow in drills 16 or 18 inches apart, and wait 
for a warm, moist day for sowing. The plantis very delicate at first, and must be kept 
clean from grass and weeds. I shall try a small piece broadcast this fall, but doubt 
whether it will prove a success, as crab grass is its greatest enemy in ny portion of 
Florida. The piece I have growing is on high, dry, pine land, such as would be suit- 
able for orange-growing. Alfalfa, having a very long tap-root, would not do on 
low land. It is very necessary to prepare the land thoroughly. My plan is as fol- 
lows: After getting the land clean of all stumps, rubbish, ete., I plow it deeply with 
a two-horse turning-plow, then harrow and hand-rake. Early in spring I put on a 
light dressing of cotton-seed meal, and sow down in cow peas broadcast, and when 
the vines are in full bearing I turn them under with a three-horse plow, and as soon 
thereafter as possible harrow deeply, and broadcast again with some good fertilizer 
(I prefer cotton-seed meal, bone meal, and potash), harrowing it in well with aspring- 
tooth harrow. It would be well to repeat the harrowing as often as possible before 
sowing. About the 1st or middle of September hand-rake perfectly smooth, and put 
in the seed with a seed-drill, about 6 pounds per acre. Keep clean of weeds and 
crab grass, aud cut when in bloom. A top-dressing of land plaster after the first 
cutting will prove very beneficial. I have experimented with a number of fOniee 
plants, but failed with all except millo maize until I tried alfalfa. 
J.S. Newman, Director Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala.: 
I have had it fourteen years in profitable growth from one seeding, and have seen 
it in Gordon County, Ga., twenty-five years old, and still in vigorous and profit- 
able growth. If used for hay it must be cut before it blossoms, or the stems become 
too woody. Like other leguminous plants it requires especial care in curing, to pre- 
vent the loss of its leaves. It may be cut from three to five times in one season, ac- 
cording to the frequency of rains. It is a mistake to suppose that because of its long 
tap-root it is not seriously affected by drought. It thrives well upon all classes of 
lands, if fertile and well drained. 
Clarke Lewis, Cliftonville, Mass. : 
It grows readily in this State on poor, sandy soil, but best on sand loam. It will 
bear cutting year after year without new seeding, if not too heavily grazed. Asa. 
permanent soiling plant it has no superior. It must be cut early, when first coming 
into blossom; if cut later it becomes woody and makes poor hay. Its introduction 
has béen confined to a few localities. 
Pe Se ar ee ee ee eee ee 
—T oe 
