The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-03-17
s@iseenaneous.r
TRY ALFALFA FOR HAY.

80 - - az
Hay is now being brought from
Northern States to Montgomery and
sold to Alabama farmers, when good
clover hay a be grown on the
prairie lands as is desired, We are
very solicitous, that the farmers of
our State shall give Alfalfa a fair
trial as a hay plant. Mr.. S. Pelton,
who has been IN California gives his
views Of the value Of Alfalfa as fol
lows: '''
n2"Why not raise the Alfaifa? The
Mississippi and other bottom lands
are adapted to its growth, and any
land where the long roots are able
to penetrate the subsoil to a living
water will grow the plant success
fully. t'.. t''
Ifeel a lively interest in the agri-
cultural progress Of the South, yet
realize that true progress will never
be made so long as the farmers there
make cotton their one great spe-
cialty. Rotation Of crops, and 1di-
versity Of farming, with plenty Of
stock, is the true road to success in
agriculture. But stock should be
made the leading feature-good
high grade, or, better still, pure bred
stock. .'''- "'' b so" ',''' '""
Throughout the Southern States
some prolific, valuable fodder plant
is needed, for it will not pay to use
ten to twenty acres to pasture one
steer. or colt, as is done in some
parts of the South, Here comes in
Alfalfa. For all lands adapted to its
growth it is unsurpassed for the
quantity and quality Of pasture or
feed it will make, when properly
cultivated, cut and cured. 1t must
be seeded. thickly, as it, does not
stool, and must be cut young and
well cured, for the old plants are
woody and Improbable. know of
no feed that will fatten" a, thin colt
as we'll cured Alfalfa hay, cut al
four" Weeks growth. I'm ','.'' .''.
The plant first came to, my notice
at Marysville, California, in the
Spring Of 1871, the next Spring af
ter I left the South, 1T was one Of
CALIFORNIA; dry seasons, and" Alfalfa
was the only plantSwhich grew rap
idly without irrigation. / was so
much pleased with its remarkable
growth that | sent seed to friends in
Colorado, and directions for it's cul-
tivation to the Evans, (CoD Journal,
recommending it for their bottom
lands. Now it is raised there very
extensively on their uplands also.
The editor of the Northeastern
Lire Stock Journal has been, investi-
eating the subject, and says it is a
question Of great Importance to the
farmers of this State, He states
that for fattening steers in winter,
the increased weight and value Of
the beef in the spring makes the hay
worth about $50 per ton, and the
average yield ofthree cuttings he es-
Inmates at five tons per acre, or
: $3.50 per acre. / am inclined to
think his Observation-Disclosures! Still,
five tons for three cuttings is a low
estimate, if the land is adapted to it's
growth, and the grass is cut every
six weeks. When thrifty, it should
be cut at four to five weeks growth,
and it will then yield a good crop OF
hay. r.r.g h. nod. qi9dt nj snij
1t is excellent for making pork
when cut young and fed green. 1t
makes pork fat enough for the butch
er's stall, and of fine flavor, The
only trouble is in first getting a
good stand, and then in knowing
how and when to cut and cure the
hay without losing the leaves
Southern Agriculturist, Montgomery,
Atdbdmd.t >Ff7. 2uf52t, u!-