The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-03-02
WHAT 1T IL.

WHAT TITS.
Alfalfa is generally considered to be q
kind of clover. Whether it belongs to
the clover family or not, it resembles
clover more than anything else it can be
compared to. The leaf is long and pointed
not round like clover, and the stalk is
somewhat stronger and not as likely to
drop down under its own weight and
lodge. The root grows to several inches
in circumference, and, branching out into
myriads OF small rootlets, extends down
wards in deep and perfect soil indefi-
nitely. Stories are told in this connec.
ton that seem fabulous. Some Califor-
mia miners claim that they have washed
out in placer mining old Spanish alfalfa
beds and found the little bairlike roots
covering the bedrock like q mat at a
depth Of from sixty TO eighty-seven feet
below the surface Whether that be SO
or not, there is no doubt but the roots
will get down at least from twenty to
thirty feet in good soil. This accounts
for the rapidity with which crops sue
coed each other In warm climate
like that of the Yakima valley, where
the soil is porous and fertile and of good
depth, (such, for instance, as the Sunny
side district, with depth of twenty to
eighty feet,) and with sufficient water to
irrigate the ground thoroughly after each
cutting, full crop, usually one and a
half TO two tons per acre, can be cut every
thirty days during the warm season
that is, four or five times each summer.
AS TO OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES.
First-The greatest objection is that j,
is hard to kill out in case one wants to
use the ground for other crops. That
objection is most easily overcome by deep
blowing in the spring after the crop has
grown up about foot. Then by re.
blowing once or twice during the season
it is in most cases killed pretty effect.
ually.
Second-As horse feed for very heavy
work it is too much like green grass, and
for race horses or very fast drivers it is
not as desirable as timothy and oats.
But for ordinary farm work, even for
horses, ii is hard to beat 1t has none oil
the Objectionable features of clover as q
horse feed and keeps the horses healthy,
fat and sleek, even without any kind OF
grain.
Third-As pasture. 1t is such very
rich feed that cattle, especially range
stock, accustomed only to dry bunch
grass, will eat too much OF it and some
times bloat unless very carefully watched
at first until they become used to it.
ITS ESPECIAL ADVANTAGES.
For mich cows no hay can compare
with it, and the same is true as feed for
beef cattle. One OF the best evidences
that it excels clover and all other hay is
the fact that hogs will eat il in dry
state out of stack in the winter time
like cattle and keep in good thriving con-
dition on it without any other feed. As
forage plant for hogs there is nothing
equal to it. Each crop is allowed to bios
som before it is mature and ready for
cutting. Honey bees work on these bios
SONS and make delicious grade Of honey.
As much as 245 pounds Of comb honey
has been secured from one hive of bees
during one season. About 100 pounds is
an average yield. A sixty acre field will
keep one haying outfit busy most OF the
season; hence, while part of the field
is poisoning, another part is being cut
and another part is growing up, etc., and
the bees have opportunity for continuous
work upon the blossoms. The beautiful
April till December, inclusive. is one OF
the most attractive features OF the Yak
ina valley, especially so In contrast with
the never-ending brown OF all the bunch
grass regions of the Rocky mountain
states. The immense yield OF alfalfa and
small cost of production, together with
the variety of uses to which it may be
put, and its especial nutrition and desira-
bility for stock, SUMS mp 10 one sentence
enough advantages to warrant its extern
sive cultivation wherever practicable.
AS TO IT'S COST, YIELD AND PRICE.
From fifteen to twenty-five pounds of
alfalfa seed is used per acre to seed
ground that has been plowed and other
wise prepared for crop. Attwelve cents
per pound, an average price, the seed
doesn't cost over So. Labor, putting ii in
not over 81 per acre, additional. 1t is
usually cut twice the first year and yields
from enc and half TO three tons the
first season. After field is two years
old it will yield easily six to eight tons
per acre II conditions are favorable.
Many fields have yielded over ten tons
per acre at four cuttings and at Ave cut
tings with long season. even more.
But for novelty's sake, If for nothing else,
We will underestimate all our statements
in this article rather than over-estimate,