PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 285 



and injure clever. But where properly drained, this 

 does not occur on alfalfa fields. I am certain alfalfa can 

 be more extensively and economically grown here.'* 

 H. B. Fullerton, Long Island, — ^As an experiment, an 

 acre of scrub-oak, waste land was cleared and the brush 

 and stumps burned in November, 1905. About 2000 

 pounds of wood ashes were applied and turned under at 

 once. In early April about ten tons of manure was ap- 

 plied so that each quarter acre would have about 2,500 

 pounds. Three weeks later 400 pounds of kainit was 

 applied and ten days later 200 pounds of Canada wood 

 ashes. Since the soil, when tested, still showed acidity, 

 about 400 pounds more of ashes were spread, chiefly be- 

 cause of its high percentage of vegetable lime, 40 per cent. 

 The lime of ashes on Long Island soils is considered su- 

 perior to that of stone or shells. Early in June the test 

 acre, being considered ready, was finally prepared and 

 sown to alfalfa in two directions crosswise over each 

 quarter acre. In less than a week the plants appeared 

 evenly on all four plots. Showery weather continued 

 from before seeding until w^ell into June. One of the 

 quarter acre plots sown with a dressing of 150 pounds of 

 soil from an old alfalfa field at Fayetteville, N. Y. early 

 took the lead in color and vigor and about six weeks from 

 sowing could be readily distinguished at a distance by the 

 richness of its foliage. It was also in flower before the 

 other plots, one of which was uninoculated, the other two 

 sown with inoculated seed. Unfavorable weather pre- 

 vented cutting until mid- August when all four plots were 

 cut, the few large weeds were removed and the alfalfa 

 weighed The plot inoculated with alfalfa soil yielded 



