The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-12-14

the MISSOURI river and eastward OF Cne
continental divide, and especially il
Kansas and Nebraska, have the agri
cultural population taken such an in
tense and intelligent interest as now il
the question of what crops are best ad
apted to their conditions of locality
soil and climate, and the methods best
calculated to give adequate returns fol
value invested in their production. One
of those crops upon which the largest
measure of new interest has centereG
during the past year or more, in Kan
sas, is alfalfa (also often called lucern)
and the yields and profits realized from
its growth in many counties, reported
by gentlemen of the highest integrity
Enthusiastically indicate that in this
plant, a large area, if not all Of Kansas
has an agricultural acquisition of ire
mendous Importance. To aid in dis
seminating the utmost accurate avail
able information among the people in
terested, the state board of agriculture
with desire to neither magnify nor IN
derrate its Importance, has canVassec
those most familiar with the subject il
its various phases, and in all the sec
tons of the United States where alfalfa
is cultivated to any considerable extent
including the scientific experimenters
trained observers. and, particularly
and largely, the practical producers
The sections where information wa:
most earnestly sought, outside of Kan
sas, we're the states of California, Colo
RADIO, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon
Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona
New Mexico and Utah. From county
officials in each of these were obtained
the names of those whom they knew to
be most largely identified or familiar
with alfalfa growing, and to nearly
1,2O0 of these were sent blanks contain
ing list of questions framed to draw
out what the recipient had learned or
observed that might be of practical
worth to those contemplating a test of
alfalfa on their own account. From
the mass Of most valuable information
contributed, the secretary has collated
deductions, intended to be, as a rule,
more especially applicable to Kansas
than elsewhere.
Alfalfa thriyes best in a warm and
friable soil, above a subson porous OF
gravelly-the opposite of a stiff, COM
pact clay, "gumbo" or "hardpan," or
any stratum through which the roots
penetrate with difficulty, although &C.
casional exceptions to the latter are
claimed to have been observed. A
sandy loan soil appears to afford the
most favorable conditions for alfalfa
growth where not irrigated. More than
almost any other plant, it depends for
its prosperity upon a subterFanean
rather than a surface water supply.
For seeding a loamy soil to alfalfa, it
should have been in cultivation a sufi-
cient length of time to thoroughly sub
due or eradicate its "wiId" nature, it
should be deeply plowed, and, if not to
be irrigated, SUBSIDIZED as deep as pos
sible; the surface should be thoroughly
pulverized and made smooth by a
plank drag or similar implement. In
sandy soils, SONS of the best results
have come from seeding on sod, es-
pecially where the subsoil is quite
sandy and porous. Such a soil might
be injured rather than benefited By
subsoiling, and where such land has
been in cultivation for several years a
preparation of the surface
only viii probably give best results.
The seed should be covered, approx
mately, with an inch of fine soil.
Twenty pounds of seed represents
nearly the quantity used by the gener-
alitY Of those who raise the crop for
both hay and seed. If sOwn in the
spring, it should be as early as danger
from frost is past.
The permanent success or aggrayat-
ing failure Of an alfalfa crop very
largely depends upon the favorable |
attending its first year. Tn
Ter even the most favorable conditions !
alfalfa is not expected to make much |
during its first year.