Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-13
Hay, Forage and Grasses for the
South.

Hay, Forage and Grasses for the
South.
Alfalfa is bound in time to come to the
front in the South as forage crop, and
also to some extent Tor grazing in con-
nectiOn with dsiries.
The New Mexico Stock Grower has
some interesting facts about alfalfa,
Which we condense in the following para
graphs:
The soil best suited to alfalfa is n rich.
sandy loan with a permeable subsoil. 1t
VIII not thrive on wet land, and hence is
admirably adapted to all dry climates.
1t will defend itself against weeds after
Tie first year. 1t will thrive with three
cuttings in year. This prevents the
weeds from going TO seed, and as most
weeds are ANIMALS they cease to grow tor
want Of seeds.
1t has enormously long roots, a cluster
which starts near the surface of the
ground and penetrates, in loose gu bsoils,
% the depth OF 80 feet.
Udepends for food and moisture chiefly
upon earth located far below the surface
"Iand easily stands the severest drought.
IL does not do much the first year, eX-
cepl 10 hight the weeds and fOrtify it's po-
huon. The second year it will yield two
" three crops, but does not reach its
Prime until the third year. and for a long
Al"e aIler can be depended upon for three
crops annually.
sow IRON 20 to so pounds OF seed to the
'c[e' IL dies down in June to reappear
ILSeptem6er, and should be planted IN
wi! or August, but may be planted sue
%Soluliy N other months.
I'm proper care and attention it will
I'VE Tor centuries. 1t IS a free horse but
suoalu not be ridden to death; and it is a
s.ou plan to fsrtlliZe it once In awhile. Ii
s.oNs 70 the length of nine feet; a single
~ Jas been known to grow in ten years
" inches in width.
ns duration Ia almost endless. In South
n n,aS there are fields 400years old, st!ll
PVduclng good crops.
ueld OF alfalfa is good legacy TO
n.y. 10 nelrs and to future generations.
ny W not hood the land set in alfalfa, it
~Sy 40 1t serious injury.
{, we Go not credit tue statements made
p mu,uer portions OF the world that alfalfa
ib o aes eight or ten tons of dry forage to
sp,,,o,, anu may be cut four 10 six times
fron,'. .ll!' II VIE get two tons to the acre
.uIee cuttings we are we'll satisfied.
IA lust eost OF cutting, curing and hauling
mo sS ,,,uI 70 per ton. The time Tor depend
Inv upon the natural grasses OF the coun-
ato past and gone. The Southern States
ia 3usl beginning TO realize that alfalfa
ma U.ilraDly adapted to their climate, soil
An "dnls' Its growth in these States on
lor,ogI4A' ehslve scale would contribute
f1gI! 10 their agricultural prosperity.
Ia iuee.P oper period for cutting is when il
mIlot IA bloom. II cut too green it will
WOOD WOOD green hay; if too ripe 1t will be
new ., on 40 sooner cut than it pushes out
Ia sop rlo iresh shoots, and the aftergrowth
ming wonderful.
ons,,i..s is valuable in proportion to the
fsins Ivy OF sugar and slbumen 1t con-
dled w. men makes it when properly ham
iof sto oI urled q sweet and palatable food
co VSs when just coming into bloom it
ertiss uS one-third more nutritiye prop
ouaitto.ln man when fully ripened. These
seeds are lost when allowed TO form
age y az much UGH sun is as hurtful TO the for.
yslusb,oe Vo little. IL is one Of the most
tie deta .e fodder plants in the world, but
II ona scuve and careless mode OF saving
value s'n destroys half its virtues and
" . me general opinion that alfalfa is