The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1888-04-25
Alfalfa, Its Culture and Success.

The following from our esteemed
friend, W. II. Raymond, which is time
ly, and cannot fail to be of vast interest
to the farmers and stock growers of Mon
tana, fully explains itself Mr.. Ray
mond is one Of Montana's most success
ful trotting. horse breeders and is rep
resentative citizen as well, and takes
live interest in all matters pertaining to
the welfare of the country. Here is his
letter:
DENVER, Col, Feb. ss, 1888.
Editor Husbandman.-I have noticed
the past few years that alfalfa was being
introduced in many parts of our terri
tory also, that there were many failures
IN getting the crop started, though some
crops were verv productive. thought,
probably, some reliable information with
regard to its planting and production
might be of benefit to our farmers lap
piled to Mr.. Morse, the very successful
manager of the Windsor farm, who
kindly furnished me an enclosed state.
ment, which is absolutely correct. As
the farm is conducted on strict business
principles, every ton of hay is weighed
and strict account kept with each plat
of ground on the farm.
w. Ii. RAYMOND.
The Windsor farm is one of the lead.
ing farms of the Centennial State, and
computations of its business manager, as
Mr.. Raymond observes, may be relied
upon implicitly. To be sure, Colorado is
a good many miles south of Montana
and we may not he able to obtain quite
results here as there, but if it is a grand
success there, there is no reason why it
will not prove profitable crop here
The following is the statement prepared
for Mr.. Raymond by Messrs, Bush and
Morse:
DENVER, Col. Feb. 90, 1883.
DEAR SIR In answer to your inquir-
les concerning alfalfa, we give you below
our experience and figures taken from
our books on the Windsor farm:
Our soil is sandy loan and we think
this is the best suited to alfalfa. We
sow thirty pounds Of seed to the acre
having the soil as thoroughly pulyerized
as possible and as deep as possible. Sow
about May and irrigate when necessary
but great care must be taken IN irrigat
ing during the first season, as it is liabl,
to wash out, especially on side hills. W,
cut as soon as it is high enough, say five
or six inches. The object of this frs
cutting is TO get rid of the weeds All.
cause the alfalfa to stool out We d.
not usually even rake up this first cut
ting unless the weeds are unusulll,
heavy. If every thing is favorable, W
get fair cutting again the first season
say ton to the acre. We consider tn
cutting as soon as it gets higl
enough very essential, as it not onl
clears the field of weeds, but causes
to stool out, which it will not do unit
it has been cut once. We usually irr
: gate just before each cutting and put tt
machines on us soon as the ground is dl
enough. This gives the new growth
good start before the hay is off Il
,. ground.
Il No rules can be laid down for irriga
ing this or any other crop, and judgmel
must be used according to the season e.
We have fields of alfalf, as follows;
No. l, 25 acres This Is a strip of Ian
between the main ditch and our latrra
and has never been irrigated on the 81
!, face, but gets enough moisture from Il
- bitches This is the third season
part of it and the second for the balan,
No.2. 50 acres.-rwenty acres of Il
. has been three years, and thirty acl