The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-04
ALFALFA AGAIN.
. the Ea,tor Of ne EAsLE.

To the Editor OF The EAGLE.
In reply TO the numerous inquiries in
regard To alfalfa, / would say it does
best sowed early in the spring and pre-
fers loose seed bed; does best sowed
alone. using a half bushel of seed TO the
acre; win grow sowed with other crops,
but takes longer TO get it established;
Will grow best in wet, but does better
than any other crop in dry weather.
The first year it ought to be cut the fore
part of June when it is about one foot
in heighth, to head off any weeds grow
ing with it and to allow it to thicken
out. Then it can be left in a seed crop
which will make about a half crop. or
five bushels of seed TO the acre. The
chaf left from threshing it kept dry
makes good feed. The alfalfa
the second year can be cut
three times though it is more
profitable TO save the last for a seed crop
which viii produce on good soil about
ten bushels of seed 10 the acre worth s.
a bushel The seed retains its vitality
| for several years. Alfalfa will not run
out, burn out or freeze out in Kansas,
crop grown in Kansas that is worth so
much to the farmer one year with another
as alfalfa. 1t has peculiar taste which
might at first be thought an objection 10
it, but it leaves a pleasant and agreeable
taste in the mouth, and the more stock
eat it the better they like it. When quits
rank it readily imparts its pleasant aroma
to milk, butter, cheese and even beef
when fed on it exclusively, bat that IN
creases its value.
Alfalfa will make Kansas q land flow
ing with milk and honey, but You have
to sow the seed and get a start of bees.
Corn we have and the cost of getting
alfalfa started Will be but trifle 4
neighbor Of mine sowed a strip of alfalfa
nine years ago and has gradually in
creased it until now he has eighty acres;
one acre of which is worth more than
two of his other eighty. The peculiar
advantage of alfalfa over other crops is
it requires but one seeding 10 make it
permanent; and then it Is not crowded
out by weeds as our native
grass Is when we pasture il.
Alfalfa has a propencity Of continuously
renewing itself bv branching out at the
lower joints, by which it constantly fur
nishes fresh tender foliage for the young
stock and suitable nutriment for the pro-
duction of milk all summer; this Is one
of its chief virtues as a forage plant.
Nor will S2-a-bushel wheat disturb il,
because it is more reliable and just as
profitable for growing stock of all kinds.
Besides YOU have the honey thrown in,
which IS no loss TO the plant, but is
secreted for the purpose Of assisting IN
the cross fertilization of the seed OF
the plant 10 preserve its vitality.
The honey if not collected is evaporated
and lost. The expense Of keeping bee5
is only in the hives, which cost not 10
exceed a dollar each for tho best frame
hive, which will last twenty years. The
natural increase Of the bees will soon
give YOU all you want, and the few that
fly off will help some one else to get
start.
A near neighbor Of mino bought two
swarms this spring for three dollars, and
now has five new swarms, and the two
first swarms may swarm again. The
ordinary increase is doubling or thrib-
ling. With good Yield Of alfalfa honey
largo increase Will be common. aud
honey will be plenty and Of a quality to
be desirable. Each variety Of flower has
it's distinct favored honey. Like the
sage honey of California, the golden rod
Of Minnesota, the linn and white clover
honey Of the northern states: aud before
long we expect 70 have alfalfa honey in
Kansas.in equal to the jessamine.. honey
of Palestine. III. L. BfDWELI-