Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-02-20
LUCERNE OR ALFALFA.

his standpoint.
: LUCERNE OR ALFALFA.
A correspondent in the Bozeman
Chronicle, says: Every few persons
may be aware of the good qualities OF
Lucerne, better known by the name
of Alfalfa Did our Montana farmers
better understand its use and adapt
ability to feeding all kinds of stock,
it would be more generally adopted
as one of our best stock feeders It
is kind Of clover, yet surprising it
in all respects, being unequalled for
| its nutritious qualities and the guam
tity of forage it affords IN return for
the labor necessary to propagate it.
In England it is considered the only
plant whose hay is preferable to the
sainfoin for the fattening of cattle.
Some physicians pronounce it equal
to six times the amount Of common
hay. Whether this is really so or not
the writer of this article does not de-
pend on hearsay only, but can truth
fully assert that during the severe
winter of 1873 he fed four pounds per
head to full grown stock, and that
only, as feed, saved his stock, while
thousands were dying on the range.
The time and manner of cultivating
it do not seem to be understood, hence
many pronounce it failure. Of
course it is more suitable for warmer
climates, and thrives best in warm
soil, sandy and gravelly land. The
latter has proved to be its native ele-
ment, though it may be and is grown
in the high latitude of Montana, and
gives satisfactory. returns. The most
profitable crops have been realized
from gravelly soil, in which it requires
more water It will not thrive in wet
ground. It doss not depend on sur
face moisture after the third year,
and should not be allowed to stand in
water, as that would have tendency
to kill it out After that time it is
hard to kill it out, as its enormous
roots will penetrate through the soil
to the depth of twenty or more feet.
This can be, and has been proven,
hence it is capable of sustaining itself
during seasons of severe drouth.
Let it not be understood. though, that
it is any the better, for the more
speedy its growth, the better it is,
being more tender, making better
feed. The drouth makes it tough;
the leaves become scared and yellow
and fall upon the ground, leaving the
stalks bare.
The ground should be well under
cultivation, for though it is susceptible
of rank growth, it may be smothered
out while young and tender. After
the the third leaf is formed there is
less danger of its being killed by frost
hence it should be sown in the month
of May, late, and may be best not
sown later than June. as it would
make sufficient headway to enable it
to endure the winter. After the third
year it is at its best. From ten to ff-
teen pounds is sufficient seed per acre
if the land is thoroughly pulverized.
The better stands are made from the
higher quantity, as twelve to fifteen
pounds of seed; the hay being finer
and covering the ground better.
The returns after the third year may
average from two to six tons per acre
according to soil, climate, etc, as it
may be cut from two to six times.
As there is danger iD feeding it green
and wet to horses and COWS, it is lest
to cut it in the morning and let it
wilt, to use common term the Wri
ter having lost a fine heifer calf by
feeding it with a little snow on top,
no more than may be gathered II one
hand. The animal died in less than
five minutes after eating it. Wishing
that the readers may be benefited by
the experience gained, the writer pre-
sents its benefits and ills pro and con.
Having used it during many years,
/ can safely recommend it for all that
il is worth and much more than is
here stated, having fed ninety pounds
to one span Of horses, fresh cut, but
not wet, without injury. the team
having eaten the whole within two
hours time. Another ninety pouads
were Immediately procured and were
deyoured before midnight.