Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-08-25

ALFALFA

tien Management
Orono. Me.Aug 2i-The following
was issued this afternoon from the
office Of Charles D Woods. director
of the Maine Agricultural experiment
station al the University Of Maine:
For more than 50 years many
different people have tried TO grow
alfalfa IN Maine. The Maine Agri-
cultural Experiment Station during
the ) years commencing IN 1868 made
IN cooperation with farmers all over
the State. over 100 trials. In many
instances 4 fair stand was obtained
but the stand was not permanent.
And alfalfa 20 be Of value must
maintain itself against all enemies
fits into a rotation. Once established
II should continue with good Yields
for an indefinite number Of years In
these trials reported a dozen years
ago the best results obtained by the
Station were N Houlton- The FIELD
was fairly well located as regards
drainage but in the spring OF 1908
when the snow melted. a covering If
ice formed over this field and the
alfalfa, as had been the case in
dozens Of other fields before il. was
smothered out and only q few plants
survived.
The writer has had in the past %
years letters from many men telling
Of partial success and me papers
have contained accounts II good
STANDS but until the present season
none Of these fields when Visited hay
come IN 70 the claims made. IN
writing the report Of these studies of
more than a decade and q half ago
It was stated that IF the difficulties
which thus far have prevented its
successful culture can be sur
mounted. il Will more than recon-
pense the cost of the many hundred
trials that have and may he gwen
this plant" While the attempt on a
large scale vas discouraged the
station encouraged the continuation
Of its growing IN an experimental
way
When in the middle Of August Of
the present year the Director Of the
Station received a ,etter from Mr. =.
". Hussey of HaIerviIle saying. /
have several pieces IF alfalfa grow
ing On my Albion farm that have
been moved three or four years. that
I would very much like 20 show YOU"
ne arranged 10 go 20 the farm with
Mr. Hussey. but without much hope
Of rndIng that he had succeeded
from The practical standpoint. But
ne apparently has While he mas
several smaller pieces Of more recent
seeding, the fact that he has one field
Of 10 acres thai has been seeded 70
alfalfa FOR s years. from which ;
crops 4 Year have been cut +or :
Years that one ,argc cutting mad
been MADE in -s26 and hat Al ne
time o. The visit there was a uniform
stand over me whole risld ana ha.
The two foot nigh plants were in full
bloom and ready for TIE second cut
ting, was I demonstration that his
farm was producing alfalfa on q
scale comm ensuraye with anything
N the eastern states. The field looked
better than any alfalfa field the
writer saw in a recent trip through
central New York
That Mr. Eussev has worked out Z
method that IS generally applicable
is doubtful But that on this part Of
his farm alfalfa will continue 70 be
profitable crop there seems little
doubt In It's earlier publications the
Station pointed out the necessity OF
avoiding water. and that he greatest
menace was winter killing due not 70
the cold Of the climate hut % the
ice covering nat IS so likely 20 cover
our fields when the SHOWS OF winter
are melting. This tigid Is admirably
located as 10 drainage gnd Il IS
doubtful + melting SHOWS can form
ice on this ae!d. II is located on The
very summit of a dome shaped nil
that gives ample drainage in all d.
rections Water cannot remain
standing over the soil anywhere ana
the SHOWS Of winter are not likely 20
change into ice as is so common on
less favorably situated land. Other
than the location there is little that
in notably different than IN other
rrssls that have resulted in more M
ess failure But the result here Will
give anyone who sees il renewed
courage 10 attempt 10 duplicate the
results on his own farm.
The essentials which Mr. Eus-
sey has followed are: The selec-
ton of a piece If rich loam
with good depth Of soil so located
that water drains readily and
quickly from IL The application Of
an abundance Of fertilizer al the
start and lime enough 70 make the
soil alkaline Using seed from hardy
strains inoculated with the bacteria
needed 10 produce root noduies on
alfalfa Keeping the weeds down the
first year by rather high cutting and
leaving all the cuttings Of the first
season on the ground as mulch.
After the first year. making cut
tines and allowing the growth after
about the middle Of August to remain
as a winter protection.
The novelty that Mr.. Eussey has
in the way Of cultivation IS after the
plants are established. On his land
ne fears a tendency of the plants be-
coming too numerous and crowding
each other out. To overcome this
s,sts Of a s-foot piece Of heavy tim
Der with a pole al right angles for
attaching "A team. Set in this timber