Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-12-06
VOLUME XI.
THE ALFALFA REPORT.

publication of the hand book on Al |
falfa-Growfng," which will be issued |
this week as the regular report of the |
Into this little volume has been gath
cred more authentic and usable infOr- |
nation concerning alfalfa than has
ever been compiled before. No phase
has been left untreated. and the men
who have been called uron to contrib
ute to the report are the ones whose
experience and study shoeld prove most
heifful to the farmer seeking for
knowledge on the subject in hand.
After the Introductory. in which Sec
retary Coburn has summed up some
valuable deductions from the individu-
al experiences of the farmers reporting
A Little Alfalfa History is given by
Prof G. l. Ingersoll, of the Nebraska
Experiment Station, at Lincoln. Then
follows what is probably the most
comprehensive article on ''The Grow
ing and Use of Alfalfa that has ever
been written. This is by Mr.. B. F.
Shnart. now of Oberlin. o.. but until
within year a large alfalfa grower of
Bozeman, Mont. Mr. Shnart is un
questioned authority on the subject.
which makes his article invaluable as q
part of the report under review. AL
Especially IN Kansas has been
handled by Prof. G. C Georgeson. of
the State Agricultural college. at Man
batten. who has told of the hest meth
DDS of seeding and growing. giving also
some idea of the value of alfalfa as
fertilizer and as stock food. A. A
Mills graduate of the Kansas Agri
cultural college. now Superintendent
Utah Experiment Station. at Logan
contributes an article on alfalfa or
Especially from Utah
Standpoint This is peculiarly valu
able in that it shows the estimate in
which alfalfa is held in communities
where it has been grown for decades.
instead of years. as in Kansas. ''A1
falfa on Kansas Upland, Without Trri-
gation' by Prof. Hilton. of Topeka.
treating of phase of the general sub
ject concerning which there has been
much dispute. tends to indicate that
alfalfa culture is not impossible or un-
profitable on the higher rolling prairie
if rightly handled 1.-The Feeding
Value of Alfalfa Hay" and Alfalfa
VS. Corn are articles showing some
thing of the place of this valuable for
age plant in the stock ration. and in
alfalfa for Hog Raising" r. E.
Van Huss, of Finrey county. tells of
his wonderful success in growing and
fattening swine on alfalfa pasture.
The subject of harvesting alfalfa is
thoroughly covered by several reprinted
articles from the Field and Farm, of
Denver. One of the very important
articles is on ''Tympanitis. or Bloat
ing.'1 by Prof. N. S. Mayo. of the State
Agricultural college. at Manhatten.
who treats the subject from an emf
nently practical standpoint, giving
causes, symptoms and various methods
of treatment.
By far the larger portion of the book
is given up TO reports from individual
growers ia response to a list of ques-
tions sent out by Secretary Coburn
some weeks ago. These reports come
from the leading growers in great
number of Kansas counties, and from
the alfalfa-producing States of Arizona
California, Colorado, Montana, Nebras
ka, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wy
oming, Utah and New Mexico. These
individual reports show what farmers
have done under varying conditions and
offer the best indication available as te
what may be expected. It is probable
that no man is beset by conditions foi
which counterpart may not De found
among these reports, and the counter
part having been found, information il
al hand as to the methods which have
been found To give the best results IN
der those conditions. Being the de
ductions from actual experience thi:
information is invaluable.
Taken altogether, the report OF
alfalfa Growing as has airead,
been stated, is gem of its kind. It il