The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-12
More About Alfalfa.

Professor Blount of Colorado Agricultural College
In Colorado alfalfa is rapidly becoming the
leading hay crop. A few years ago but few
acres could be found anywhere. So rapidly
has it been introduced that several thousand
acres are being grown with the greatest sue
cess. A few instances that have come under
my own observation may show how prolific,
valuable and important it is becoming. John
Sheldon has farm joining these college
grounds, and raises 300 acres of the finest hay
grown anywhere. He keeps large herds of
sheep, some cattle, horses and hogs. When
fed on alfalfa cattle grow faster; COWS give
more and better milk, horses are more healthy
and do more work, with fourth the grain;
sheep make better mutton and lose less wool;
and his hogs fatten, almost ready for market
without any grain, He cuts his crops three
times, averaging about two tons to the cut
ting He sells readily all he has to spare for
So to $40. BY letting the first crop grow I'M
Gil July he raises great deal of seed-from
five to ten bushels per acre-which sells
readily for SO per bushel; sometimes as high
as $12. After the seed is threshed the straw
is much better, he thinks, than the hay
when cut in the bloom. Harry Stratton, a
dairy farmer, also alongside these grounds,
pronounces alfalfa 'the best feed in the
world for milch cows" In my lecture room
I have samples Of it from his ranch, four feet
long, grown in thirty days; others six feet
two inches long, in seed July 1, and sown in
May, and still others with from twenty to
eighty tillers from single seed the first sea-
son.
On the Platte river near Denver, T. B.
Walker has $50 acres which he cuts three
times They yield from five to eight tons
every year, and he sells the hay for $14 to
$40. Major Downing, on the same river,
raises fine blooded horses and large fields of
alfalfa to feed them. He says: 1T is the
great stimulant to bone and muscle. l
Il fI,ar have for uOh-
breds than the best oats and corn ever
grown"
Gen. Cook, two miles from Denver, says
he would not exchange it for any feed, and
that it is the best milk producer in the world"
Captain Tyler of Bowlder county, has one
of the best farms in the State. Last winter
he fattened herd of steers entirely on alfalfa
two tons each-shipped them to Chicago,
receiving as much as other parties did for
corn-fed cattle. He realized over 100 per
cent. on the investment. Last June, he. says
he turned lot of poor hogs upon his alfalfa
stubble, and by September they became so
fat he sold them for the Denver market at 8
cents gross
l. Max Clark, of Greedy, says that six acres
we'll set produce more for him than forty
acres of ordinary bottom land do for the best
eastern farmers.
Reports from Europe, Asia and South
America state that certain localities yield
from eight to fifteen tons per acre. In Cali
fornia five to six crops are cut annually,
averaging in some places ten tons. In Geor-
ga six to eight cuttings are made, yielding
ten to twelve tons.
Questions-Will it spread and become a
nuisancep No more than red clover. 1t is a
hard matter, however, to kill it out when
once rooted.
Will it do best sown with grain or alone?
We SOW both ways. 1t does well however
sown.
How much seed per acre? Sixteen to
twenty pounds. Sow both ways, by drill
and broadcast.
1t cannot be sown in the fall. or on snow
in winter 1t is too tender. Sow on fall
sown grain in April and May after the frost
has gone. Harrow in.