the quarantine restrictions were continued for a time afterwards, but all of the quarantine restrictions were off five months after the disease was discovered. That is the record in Pennsylvania.

The CHAIRMAN: Gentlemen, I wish to call your attention to the fact that we are encroaching on the time of the Farmers' Institute, and any remarks you make must necessarily be brief.

DR. KLEIN: I am through, and thank you for the time and attention.

The CHAIRMAN: I would have nothing to say if I had not been misquoted. The inquiry I made was in regard to tuberculosis in the human family, and it was turned over to the animal family, and in the, course of the discussion I gave my opinion regarding the way things were done during the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease in our county. I simply voiced the feeling of many of the best citizens, and did not speak for publication. Nor did I utter one word of censure against Dr. Pearson. He has my highest respect and regard. I may not have spoken wisely, because I was not speaking for publication, but the reporters got it wrong in the newspapers, and therefore I wish to say that I wished to make no complaint or cast any reflection on the State Livestock Sanitary Board. My remarks against graft were confined entirely to some of our local citi zens, who were anxious-at least it is commonly so reported-to have their herds condemned. I did not wish to make a public example of Mr. Martin, and I hope it won't be repeated. It was reported by people there that the herd was in very poor condition, and that he had received a price for his cattle, far in excess of their value In the other case where I asked them to let the stock be held until Dr. Pearson could see it, it was pronounced not foot and mouth disease. In regard to the number of Veterinarians in our county, I do not know how many were there; I saw and talked with two of them. I simply referred to this matter as an indication of the graft that exists not only in connection with this, but with other things in Clinton county, and other places as well. This is the day of graft, and I hope this will bring out an investigation.

I can thoroughly endorse the sentiment of the resolution, and can afford to vote for it freely. I have full confidence in Dr. Pearson and the State Livestock Sanitary Board, and when the vote is taken on this resolution, I shall vote in favor of it.

A vote was then taken, which unanimously endorsed the resolutions.

SECRETARY CRITCHFIELD: Now, Mr. Chairman, if there are any credentials I should like to have them, so that we may adjourn, and let the Normal Institute resume its work.

The additional credentials having been gone over and found correct, the Board adjourned.

After the adjournment of the special meeting of the State Board of Agriculture, the Normal Institute resumed its session, with Mr. Seamans in the Chair.

The CHAIRMAN: I have a list of delegates here from the Norrisville Farmers' Club: they send the credentials of the following gentlemen: Mr. Thomas W .Brown; Dr. Vallis Hawkins, and Mr. Payne Norris.

In accordance with the action taken yesterday, these gentlemen are entitled to the privilege of the floor, as are any others, who may wish to take part in the discussion.

PROF. MENGES: I have a letter from the Mayor of the city, in which he states that he is very sorry that he was unable to be here yesterday to welcome you to our city, but that was very well done by the Judge. The Mayor says he would like to shake the hand of every man here from all the different counties of Pennsylvania, and bid him welcome.

The CHAIRMAN: We will now take up the regular program of the morning; the first topic is "Alfalfa; Its Importance As A Feeding and Fertilizing Crop For Pennsylvania," by Prof. Agee, of State College

SECRETARY MARTIN: I wish to say that we are in receipt of a letter from Prof. Agee, saying that owing to a special pressure of work he is unable to be with us this morning; but he has sent his paper to be read by Mr. Peachey. If possible, Prof. Agee will come here before we adjourn to say "how do you do" to you all. Mr. Peachey will read his paper, and then deliver his own address on Alfalfa.

The CHAIRMAN: Then I will have to introduce to you Mr. Peachey.

Mr. Peachey read the paper of Prof. Agee, which is as follows

ALFALFA IN PENNSYLVANIA,

By PROF. ALVA AGEE, State College, Pa.

Director Martin has asked me to discuss the importance of alfalfa as a feeding and fertilizing crop for Pennsylvania and then my friend Peachey will tell you how to grow it.

Some good people are affirming that all this talk about alfalfa is wasted effort in Pennsylvania. They believe that the crop has no importance for our state because it cannot be grown successfully. There have been a great number of failures-no doubt about it-but these failures were largely due to our ignorance and not to any inability of alfalfa to grow if given a square deal. The proof of this fact is found in the existence of prosperous fields of alfalfa on a variety of soil types under our eastern climatic conditions. The plant does grow under Pennsylvania skies and all it asks is that it have drainage, fertility, lime, inoculation and a good seed bed, where it can have moisture and freedom from pernicious grass the first year.

A recent circular issued by the Ohio Experiment Station contains this statement: "Alfalfa is being grown with more or less success in every county in this state; with greater success upon the rich and well drained limestone soils of the western half than upon the shale, clay and sandy loams of eastern Ohio, although under these less favorable natural conditions success has been obtained by many." A similar statement may may be made for our own State.

Alfalfa would have no importance for us, regardless of the matter of the feeding value of a ton of alfalfa hay, if it would not grow on our farms. It is growing and can be made to grow on a very considerable acreage within our own state lines.

Our next consideration is its actual feeding value. On this point I can render the best service to you by quoting from Dr. Hunt's book on "Forage and Fiber Crops in America," which occupies an authoritive position in our agricultural literature. It says, "A table based upon the twelfth census and American analyses and digestion experiments, shows that in 1899 there was produced in the United States, about the same quantity of alfalfa hay as of red clover hay, off of about one-half the area, and that the yield of digestible nutrients was from two to two and one-half times that of red clover; while the digestible protein in an acre of alfalfa was three to four times that of red clover, and about ten times that of the cultivated grasses, on the basis of the composition and digestibility of timothy hay."

Experiments have demonstrated that the composition and digestibility of alfalfa are quite similar to that of bran. It is a safe statement that one ton of alfalfa hay is equivalent in feeding value.

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to four-fifths of a ton of bran. Dr. Voorhees at the New Jersey Station has shown that nearly seven tons of cured hay may be produced on an acre of land in our Eastern States, when conditions are made entirely favorable. One-half of that yield, or three and onehalf tons per acre, should be a low average yield on Pennsylvania farms, and if each ton is equivalent in feeding value to four-fifths of a ton of wheat bran, as scientific experiment has established, the importance of this crop for Pennsylvania is beyond question. Our agricultural leaders are right in their continued insistence that farmers learn to grow alfalfa successfuly, because the relative value of alfalfa as compared with timothy and clover, cannot be ignored by farmers whose product in milk and meat must be marketed in competition with producers from other states who will learn to grow alfalfa extensively.

Director Martin has reqested that the fertilizing value of alfalfa be discussed. One of the best examples of the use of alfalfa as a means of maintaining soil fertility, may be found on the farm of our friend Joseph E. Wing, where, in four or five years rotation, the alfalfa sod produces immense yields of corn. This legume provides a soil with a large amount of organic matter and with supplies of nitrogen, and performs the same office as red clover. When mineral fertilizers are freely used, maximum crops always are possible on an alfalfa sod.

The CHAIRMAN: Mr. Peachey will now continue to address you on "Alfalfa; how to grow it successfully."

Mr. Peachey's address was as follows:

ALFALFA: HOW TO GROW IT SUCCESSFULLY.

By J. H. PEACHEY, Belleville, Pa.

The value of Alfalfa-"The Best of Fodder," has been practically demonstrated by Prof. Agee. It would be difficult to over-estimate its value as a forage crop. Truly it is the most wonderful plant in existence. You have learned what it is. I have the difficult task of teaching how to secure it. To have and to hold is the problem. My experience, limited to four years, directed by what I have gathered from other sources, will compose the subject matter of this article. So much has been published in book, bulletin and paper, that to gather the best information from the best authorities, would be impractical upon this occasion.

The soil, the all important factor in the problem, will first engage our attention. If soil is adapted to the plant, success is more easily obtained. Therefore a knowledge of the life history of alfalfa seems necessary. When we know the characteristics of a plant, we can work more intelligently. Alfalfa, being a dry weather plant, or one that succeeds best where the average rainfall is considerably

less than in Pennsylvania, is not adapted to a wet soil. It cannot live in a soil where water excludes the air. Dig a hole in the ground several feet deep, and if water stands in it, alfalfa refuses to grow. The roots cannot come in contact with the soil air, and must necessarily perish. Some one has said that it will not grow on high ground. My experience teaches differently. One of my fields is on a hillside, almost the highest point on the farm. The growth is comparatively good. The soil is flint underlaid with limestone. At several places the yellow limestone clay comes to the surface. Here the growth is apparently as good as elsewhere. The subsoil is reasonably porous.

Condition of soil is apparently more important than type of soil. Humus, fertility, available plant food, are all essential. Experience favors liberal applications of lime, the quantity depending somewhat upon the acidity of the soil, and its physical condition. These varying conditions may be largely determined by the crops previously grown. The plant itself, when carefully studied, can tell its story, or in a measure at least make its wants known.

For the benefit of the beginner in alfalfa culture, we become more specific. Study the plant. Select an acre of the best soil you have. Let that be a potato patch, or corn field, where weeds have been destroyed the previous year. A good clover sod could also be selected. Manure it heavily. Plow it well and early in spring. Harrow thoroughly, pulverizing well. Apply fifty bushels of stone lime to the acre. This may seem excessive, but it cannot do injury to an alfalfa crop. Harrow with smoothing harrow about every ten days, or whenever you notice the appearance of weeds. Cut the soil shallow. Deep harrowing will bring seeds to the surface, that otherwise would be dormant. Continue thus until latter part of July or first of August. This should insure a well-prepared seed bed. A few days before seeding, apply about four hundred pounds of a good complete fertilizer. This can be done with grain drill. If you can secure several hundred pounds of soil from another alfalfa field, do it, distributing it in the latter part of the day and harrow immediately. In getting soil, remove an inch of surface soil, and take several inches beneath. Do not expose this inoculated soil to the hot rays of the sun before applying to the field. Do not say that an application of inoculated soil is absolutely necessary, but it is a means to an end, and there is wisdom in securing the best condition possible. Do the best we know and leave the rest. My faith in innoculated soil from alfalfa field, is considerably stronger than in those commercial cultures, sent out by the Department of Agriculture. While I am free to credit to them full value, it seems reasonable to believe that when all other conditions have culminated favorably, alfalfa will care for itself. In other words, inoculation will not regulate difficulties that pertain to soil fertility, or create favorable conditions when good culture has been neglected.

Concerning the seed, get the best, regardless of cost. Patronize good, reliable seedsmen. Have seed tested for germination. Be sure that it is free from all noxious weed seeds. Remember that weeds and grasses are the persistent enemies of alfalfa. Prevention, like in all things else, is better than cure.

Time of seeding will vary with latitude. Prefer August 1 for Central Pennsylvania. Sow twenty to twenty-five pounds per acre.