Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-12

Which is sos feet deep, seven inches in
size, and has a splendid flow of three
inches. This well is situated in section 7,
township 81, range "a. Mr.. Dewey is
more Of a journalist than q farmer, having
been one OF the editors of Visalis paper
for MANY wears. Still, he managed to get
gate 100 acres with during the past year,
and already has quite large area in alfalfa,
which seems to be the fsvorite production
throughout the artesisn belt. 1t is here,
as elsewhere III California where water may
be had in plentiful supply, that alfalfa may
be made the most profitable of all the pro.
ducts of the soil. There is no doubt but
that an industrious, capable man, with an
artesian well and hundred acres in al
falfa, can do very superior dairy business,
as he can raise about five crops year,
with which he may feed from 200 to go
cattle, and few sheep, hogs and horses.
THB WONDERS OF ALFALFA CLOVER.
A few days ago l met E. W. S. Woods,
a practical farmer Of long experience in this
State and elsewhere, who says that one
acre of alfalfa, with facilities for watering
from artesian wells, will keep three COWS
/ or three horses year. He informed me
that during the season just passed he had
cut between five and six tons of alfalfa
| (clover) hay per acre. He cut it three
| times during the season, and then let all
kinds of stock run on it for nearly three
months. He does not consider that his
| land is quite so rich as most of the land in
| this section, and will put good portion of
| it, as soon as he can, to vines, fruit and
| grain. All the farmers hereabout declare
| that one acre of alfalfa properly wstered
and properly cut will feed from eight to
| ten sheep either for wool or for market.
There is no telling how many hogs may be
raised to the acre. as they are only allowed
to run on it during the early spring and
| fall. Hogs are fed on alfalfa. hay and corn
a few weeks before sending them to market,
which alone puts them in good marketing
condition. Hogs will pay as an adjunct of
a dairy better than in any other way,
because they will get fat on the alfalfa left
by all other animals Except sheep, and
| the otfal of dairy. Forty acres of alfalfa
will maintain eighty well bred cows
a year, and assure a constant and copious
flow of rich butter and cheese,
| Welding milk for at least ten months
| IN L0e year lTOn edCu COW IL is
a noteworthy fact that, while many varie-
ties of hay and forage plants may arrest
the flow of milk, alfalfa and alfalfa hay
seem to excite and stimulate the functions
of tactical supply. A great many owners
of wells are already preparing to go into
the dairy business, it promises SO well
| 1t is we'll known that there are fields of al
falfa in Mussel Slough and Visalia swamp
that regularly yield from eight to ten tons
of hay per acre per annum ; and 1t is fair
to assume that the yield in this section,
when the plant becomes fully rooted, and
| it's care in cutting and watering is more
perfect, will be fully as heavy as it can be
shown to be anywhere in the State. This
part of the San joaquin valley is beginning
to show indications of settlement by a
irst-rste class of people, as the lands are
very cheap, and there is artesian water,
water, water, almost everywhere, and all
that can be drank by either man, beast,
tree, grass, flower or shrub. l notice that
number of parties are buying lands cor.
neriDg on each other, and going in together
to sink wells. This is very good way for
men with sparse means, as one well is al
ways good for 100 acres, even of alfalfa, or
% acres for each of four men. The reader
will bear in mind that it takes more water
for alfalfa than for any other production
twice as much as it does for barley.