St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-09
VALUE OF ALFALFA.
Something of Its History and Its
Character and Uses,


The State Agricultural College OF
Colorado, situated at Fort Collins, has
just issued a pamphlet on alfalfa, its
growth, composition, digestibility, etc.
The pamphlet will prove very valuable
to those interested in the subject. 1t
says:
The perennial plant known and called
| alfalfa by the Spanish, and by the
French lucerne, has been grown extern
sively and for many years in the South
west under the name of Chilian.O or Cali
| fornia clover.
The Romans brought it from Media In
40 B. c., hence its generic name.
: 1t was introduced into Mexico in the
time of the conquest; thence into South
America, and from Chill into California
in 1854. where it has been grown more
than elsewhere. 1t found its way into
California early in the sixties, having
been raised for the first time in the
state in the Platte valley, near Denver.
1t t1ourishes at all attitudes below
1000 feet, and in all soils that Will pro-
duce other good crops. Sandy and clay
loans are best adapted to its habits.
soils underaid with shale, or hardpan,
are not conductive to its successful
growth, inasmuch as the roots of the
plant must penetrate the SubSOil until
they find moisture. Where surface
drainage is good, and the land not too
wet or too alkaline, it readily secures
stand. and the first season makes crop
of one or two tons per acre-often WITH
out any irrigation in this ARID climate.
1t is the most tenacious OF all forage
plants, enduring more harsh treatment,
after
making stand, than any Of the others.
Ir is. indeed. "a child of the sum-" defy
ing the hottest suns, the driest soils and
the greatest variations of temperature
in fact, it keeps fresh and green while
all other plants dry up and die around 1t.
Its growth is exceedingly rapid. In
some soils and under certain conditions
it makes growth of thirty to forty-hve
inches month, and in some localities
cutting every month in the summer sea-
son. The first cutting is ready about the
middle of June-just before blooming
and is considered the best for working
teams, inaSmuch as it contains more tat
tening elements, and hence is stronger
food. The second crop is cut in July,
and the third in September, and II the
fourth is cut, it is ready in October.
The second crop, and particularly the
IulTu, Is DtIltI lUl HllOh COWo' Civ
animals that do not work, inasmuch as
it is more succulent, contains fewer
coarse stems and is more easily mas
ticated.
The feeding value, as seen in the
tables given, is clearly demonstrated in
practical stock feeding. No other clover,
grass or forage plant compares with 1t,
or contains a greater per cent OF protein
substances.
Horses grow fat on it alone; cattle
make fat, flesh and milk; sheep thrive
and are perfectly healthy when fed on
it; and even hogs, when pastured on it,
need no other food.
The preparation of the soil for sowing
alfalfa is about the same as for clover,
or other small seeds; if quite moist,
good stands are secured OH the raw sod
merely by narrowing or drilling the
seed. The condition of the soil is every
thing, in rapid and successful germina-
ton. Being rapid grower, and very
succuent, it requires large amount of
moisture to start it successfully and
keep it growing until well rooted, as
when once rooted it is safe.