The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-07-21
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The Cs0i1e Fodder Il tho Great Plain
It the 1eel0 1suntainA
The attention Of stock men and
ranchers throughout the northwest
IL now being turned to the result Of
= few experimental crops of the
grass or weed espercet, which il
being grown in many cases for the
first tims, in the territories, this sea.
son. Wonderful results are claimed
for the weed and, if they are proven
by actual test, it will soon become
the chief fodder for stock in the
Rocky mountains and will be grown
upon a vast acreage Of unreclaimed
lands on the higher plains of the
great basin and fed to millions OF
heads of stock that now depend
upon the ranges summer and win
ter for q livelihood. Grown with
out irrigation and on the poorest
and driest soils, 1t attains a luxuri-
Gus growth and yields as high as
seven or eight tons to the acre.
Such a fodder in the stock regions
of the Rocky mountains would Gre
ate a revolution in stock interests
that would extend far and wide.
There would no longer be any ne
cessity of risk or loss by severe
winters, and because of it's very
cheapness and plentitude espercet
would soon become even the heav-
lest stock-grower's dependence
throughout the winter in many
localities.
From every experiment with the
plant so far the conclusion must
be drawn that it is THE foddr for
the higher attitudes and sagebrush
lands of this region in ali cases
where water is unavailable and that
it may even be grown to advantage
over the usual grasses on good wet
soil. A gentleman interviewed by
the Washington Farmer says:
have raised great deal Of it in Ger
many. 1t Is the principal fodder grass
Of that country; yet I would hardly call
it = grass, but rather weed. 1t grows
rank and quick, will do without irriga-
ton, seeds down rapidly, and is perennial
1t will grow on the worst land you Can
lind in this territory. I have seen it on
laud that seems netting but grit. It Was
worse than sandy land regular grit, and
aeemingly useless, but espercet would
grow finely upon it. have seen it planted
ON hard red soil that would resist pick,
and yet the espercet would grow from
eighteen inches to two feet high on il
without wster. Still, little irrigation
il . great Improvement. With one irri-
CATION in the spring, it will grow to q
mans chin, and % rank and thick thai
the men want extra price to NOW 1t.
have seen seven tons to the acre cut IN
Germany, and German acre 10 smaller
than M American acre. For esperce'
take any Of the big sandy deserts, ~
called, Of the territnry, and you can turn
them into big espercet fields. A few
summer showers will make the plant
grow high and rank. 1t fattens stock
rapidly, and makes cows give milk splen
didiy. A million tons Ut esl'ercet could
he raised In Nevada in places which art
now considered worthless for anything
1t will not seed the first year, but afte'
that. it IL heavy seeder. The eeed grows
in pods and yields tremendously. l shall
send to Germany for large quantities 0l
the seed this summer. The fall N, think
the best time to SOW it. SCATTER it among
the sage brush in the fall, without even
narrowing and it will soon spread. Cat
tlemen ought to pay more attention t.
this plant.
Espercet 10 . lesnmiueua plant, and
belongs to the Same family ~ clover
alfalfa, etc. The stem grows from ono to
three feet high and bears . pea shspce
blossom. The yield 10 much less than
alfalfa, but it 10 very nufritiOas, and Ii
particularly beneficial for cows. 1t sue
cceds best in dry soil where there 10 lime
and will flourish without water. 1t haI
. long tap root, and thus il enabled t
draw supplies Of moisture from grea
depths. Although the admirable quail
ties of this grass have been known to
years, no attempts were made to intro
duce it into this country on any grea
scale. But frum the description given
il would seem to be especially adapted
to the dry and arid regions Of the west
aud now that attention has been draws
to it. it is to bs hoped that some enter
prisrng NAN will import aquantity o
the seed, and see that thorough test i
made.
The Next Election.