Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-24

This land refer 10 Is Egypt, with the nope
river Nils brinrlrg yearly its rich deposit
from the interior Of tbe gren, oark anu A'aS''
unknown continent
There. vhen only fifteen years old, ! nrat
saw alfalfa growing 10 perfection. aud ron
the Fuyptian l,rmer got my first inior'ns'
ton how II was crown. And IRON Az ~,
own experience IN tbst and several otnsf
countries, n well IS several States OF TOE
grand Uniop. | DO not tblrk We can su'-
prove on the Egyptian plan of eultlfaucn.
In the snrinr during March and April, when
are very dry months because TIC river y
low az that sesson. consequently tne anu
Il very dry, n cannot be piougneo uu,
less water be raised from the river or csna'
by means Of ox-mills. When the mne y
dry enough, II Is plOughed deep anu pss
rOwed foe, then left until June OF Jun,
when It can be irrigated; alter yhicn ~ =
Ell for about amonth that weeds ana o,nr,
pants NAV sproul: then u " piouslss.
again, all vegetable t1ster peib9 'u'n,r
under and narrowed very hne. WDen tns
al',lfa Is sown aud the seed cofefei
bv passjrg brush harrow uehtD
over n. After lhe seed IS sown inc
soil il moisientd sufficiently 10 start "
A month sitter the sowing IL Is nrigaeu'
Amer that, once In two monihs' 'os
seed is sown very toick, a. much ne one hslI
bushel 10 the acre. Then II csn he cut s'A
times a year, making about seven tons 10 w
acre per annum. In Minnesota | uled ~
and after eeysral faiiurcs-tDe youDg p'apss
beng killed by severe frosts-Oy p'aoNuK
late IN the spring | succeeded In GERM
very good staui. aud was able TO cut u t"lce
wear. Welding IN ala sDou. four ana ba'
tons per acre.
IN Nontana my expsriecs was about 'ne
same "a In Minnesota. In Utah aoG In Cbl'-
foinia they grow Il TO perfection, ana GU. II
four or Eve times during the season. AiysI
al nv experience in the countries men
toned | have I led the alfalfa 10 what ! cali
the "Vulley q My Rest" The grand ana
picturesque VALLEY OF the james, a.
rich So any valley OF the same "a
tent in the wOrld-a little aOusen ot
man Of late, but ever ready torespond 70 tus
honest touch Of practical farmer. lso"eI
alfalfa toe 6rst year | was In virginia, shu
to-day. | am proud 10 say, u IS gfanu sue,
cess In eyery way have about ten acres OF
II which vas sOwed In The spring. vi loese
six acres on very clean, hne' rcli' sauu'
loan; rolled after sowing instead oil harrow
mo That season | cut 1t once, about two
tons 10 The acre. Next season that .anie SIX
acres | cut tbr,e times, receiving IN Gil ABOUT
four aod bali tons to the acre. Last season
| c,it il four times and made five and hail
tons 10 the acre.
sowed four acres again about OCTOBER
25lh the iirst year | settled on TIE James
river, but It got 80 badiy injured oy tue
frost that / plOughed II up next sprlns.
The next season, two years sgO, sONed
four acres in the cary part OF September
That cot a very good start before the severe
frost. and IL food the winter very wei, aou
one could not tell the difference between II
and what sowed in tue spring.
Nv cattle, lbUles. nnTses, aud sheen gre an
very fond Of II. green or cured; and con-
slider IL one Of the most valuable crops We
can grow on land suitable for Il, which
ought 10 be rich naturally or well manuf-o.
In regard to the japanese clover can
only say that last spring. alter cultlNatlng
and cleaning the land we'll ] soWed Tor tue
first time Two acres OF poor upland. j was
given 10 understand that u would grow wen
on Door land. i sowed also two acres OF
good owland; this showed very good
siaad last fall. But. on the contrary, the
poor land was the revere; aud l am OF the
opinion tbst we need not expect that or any
other crop 10 do we'll on poor laad.
for one never could raise good crops on
pocr land. nor ever expect 10 DO 50.
will be glad, Sir. President, TO answer
any question that yourself or members may
ask me, especially In regard to alfalfa.
Tue report was tuen quite fully discussed
bv Captain Frank Guy, Messra. Howard
Swltelord. James b. WnsiOu, Thomas w.
boswell. aud others.
Informal discussions on farming operations
generally were then induced IN, and aitei
beiue handsomely entertained 10y their host
Captsln Frank Guy. the club adjourned t.
meet at the fsrm OF Walter j.. Grant IN
March.