People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-03-16
Alfalfa Clover.


ing topic of the day. And ] am glad
to say by three years experience that
their manifest interest is well found
ed. l am receiving letters Of inquiry
in reference TO this grass plant almost
daily; also have sold fifty or sixty
bushels seed, and the task of writing
individual letters is getting irkSome.
By your kindness and permission |, as
well as many of your readers, will be
urder lasting obligations to you for
the use Of your columns for an alfalfa
article.
Alfalfa clover was introduced into
California over forty years ago. 1t is
said that there are fields over 100 years
old, and it has gradually worked its
way eastward, crossing the mountains,
gaining a lasting fO0t-hOld in the
sterile plains Of Arizona, stopped for
a while among the MOrmOnS. Soon it
asserted its right along the settled
banks of RiOGrande and Arkansas riv-
erS. About fourteen years ago its cul-
tivatiOn was commenced in the weS-
tern part of our state. Its march east
ward since then has been rapid:thous-
andS and thousands of acres greet
the eye as we travel westward. In
fact, its green foliage and purple
bloom is visible all over our state.
When the clouds cease to give up
their moisture: when the ScOrching
summers sun willis all vegetation;
when the hot winds sweep across our
| field and completes the work of deS-
ItruCtiOn, and establishes the sun burnt
Kansas tan which is hOrrid sight to
the Kansas farmer:the beautiful green
alfalfa, with It's purple blossoms and
rich perfume, attracts the eye Of the
traveller and lllS him with admiration
as well as furnishing the owner SUBJ
stantial reward and encouragement.
The year Of 1893 in this part of the
state was undoubtedly the dryest and
hottest Of any year since the settle
ment of this country, and still | cut
my clover twice for hay and once for
seed, which is equal to four cuttings.
| feel safe in saying that it turned off
over three tons per acre for the sea-
SON If there had heen sufficient mOis-
ture to secure and mature other crops
the yield Of alfalfa clover hay would
have been more than doubled.
The secret Of harvesting part of a
crop the dryest season is because the
roots penetrate the soil to the water,
or moisture below: therefore, all lands
which are underlaid with sheet water
termed "sub-irrigation," is naturally
adaptable to the successful culture of
alSalfa. But | am convinced that there
is very little upland in this county
but what will produce alfalfa hay suf.
fiCient to remunerate the owner well
for his trouble and expense.
| Several farmers who have been pas.
turing the clover claim it is the best
forage plant in the world. They also
claim it will pasture from twelve tC
fifteen average hogs from April tC
! December,and produce a growth from
100 to $50 pounds Of an average.
have not used mine for pasture, con.
sequently | cannot vOuch for the
| truthfulneSS Of the above, but suffice
to say, if half of it is true it will beat
raising Of thirty and forty cent wheat
There is one thing / do know, tits the
best and most nutritious, containing
the greatest fattening qualities of any
hay | have ever had any experience
with, and | was raised in the clover
timothy and bluegrass regions of Ohio
at that. Fed in abundance to milch
COWS in the winter, the cows being
properly protected from the storms
will rprOduce a flow of milk equal, il
not superior, to a run at grass in the
summer season, besides putting on fat
Horses will do well on the hay and
hold their flesh with light work, and
will fatten in a dry lot with all the
hay they want without any grain.
My experience as feed for work
horses in summer season is not salts
factory: if a little muSty is liable tC
produce a cough, and will render the
horse soft, and waShy, about the same
as if running on fresh pasture. 1t viii
produce heayeS in cattle when The
green clover is wet with dew or rain
therefore, you should be very careful
until your stock becomes used to it
by only allowing them access to the
grass at intervals. Hogs will eat the
hay during the winter, from whicE
they will receive sufficient nourish
ment to sustain life and normal flesh
find l have already spun this ar
ticle out too long, so will close. ant
will finish this article in another IS
sue. In my next article l shall tel
you how to prepare the ground, wher
and how to plant, the amount Of seet