Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-30

More on Alfalfa for Texas.
Some weeks ago, while writing our
e-st article on alfalfa culture for Texas,
no little dreamed of the Interest in the
matter that was soon 20 be stirred up.
/. large numbers of letters have since been
rscrived on the subject from various sec
Ian. Of the state-some detailing ex-
pe1ences with alfalfa. some asking for
En,kher information aud some inQuiriug
wkre seed could lie had. Not one word
~ Ism sent III that could be construed
oSosssng the slightest reflection against
ltsrulture for us-it has all stood
Sntiray one sided Every present indi-
Ecau6n can easAksn, as pointing to 9
q On x gener,sf ID tTsheas TO all coHs
IN grIe ed - feel entirely justiaeaSn
rslIur ss364 weening statSment, Used
non orr 30 obsrrvat*hs a9aEnpon
r1aci' 10 IA motion latel EsrereiEH, that
aIfeIfa, Eqberly mausfed, eafbe made
grand &5B for the Eoue4tar state.
Tpdpr thEse circuuts fangtgit must be
admitted that the ffnsrH interest re-
Erred to is entirely 100000 sort of inters.
4.l 10 have M existence. x
since the time of our first writing IN
these columns on the subject of alfalfa
,re hive seen quite number OF small
alfalfa patches in Texas, and, though
tamiiiur with the crop in other sections
Of the country, we must be permitted 10
-oy that, all things considered, we have
l,yer vet found Il making better show
ugs anywhere than we have found 1t
,oakiuu here. On this account we cam
not do otherwise than hope that our peo-
nile will keep up the alfalfa interest until
the crop has been made really proml-
utui fruture in Texas agriculture. There
,-.ult seem to exist no natural cause cal
culnted TO prevent this lust.
The forage question Is one of vast i'm
rnrtanre even for Texas. We have here
the finest wild grasses known to the
world, vet the time Is at hand when tame
forage must come in for prominent
ulure, aud alfalfa appears to be Offering
gs one of the best things in that line that
could possibly be had, and as good
thing rs there is any need Tor. 1t has
a.reaiy proved the very life of other
sections, ard there is every reason for
believing that il can be made 10 do as
well aud as much for us as it has done
anywhere Without alfalfa California
would speedily drop many degrees on her
scule OF agricultural prosperity, and
even many Northern regions are depend
ing largely upon il.
SppakIng OF California leads us to think
of making reference to a recent letter
on the subject of alfalfa contributed by
Mr. J. II. Beaufort of Santa Rosa
county, Cal. TO the Florida Farmer and
Frut-Grower. Mr.. Beaufort states that
in Southern California he chad seen
barren desert-wastes transformed into
the finest pastuIage through alfalfa
alone 1t stands at the head of the long
list of forage plants, in the estimation of
the largest breeders of fine stock (many
of them eminent authorities) VINO have
used it. In addition to its excellent
qualities as a hay-producing plant, 1t
will Gf planted at the proper seasou)
grow luXuriantly through anv heat or
drouth our country may be subjected to,
and can be cut tour or five times per
annum, besides giving splendid pasturage
through the winter.
Could our many farmers, fruit-grow-
ers and others of some of the Southern
states be induced TO seed down in alfalfa
few OF the many acres they possess,
and which are now lying idle, hundreds
OF dollars would be kept at home which
otherwise 20 North for hay.
An Illinois correspondent of the Fruit
Growers Journal, writing on the same
subject says: 81 want to tell you about
my third of al acre of alfalfa. The first
crop for this year was heavy one, fully
twenty-eGht inches in height, was cut
the 9th of June, and the second crop is
now on the ground. 1t is past full
blossom and will be saved for seed. Last
year | cut four crops of green heritage,
this year do not expect but three, be-
cause one crop grown for seed requires Us
much time to make in as two saved for
nay. - The letter bears date of July %.
So, you see, our climate offers nothing
against the successful culture of alfalfa.
Il is not too cold, for alfalfa succeeds in
Illinois. Ii is not too dry or too warm ;,
for alfalfa succeeds in California.