The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-01

YAH yOu get VI IL Wnen you want 10
is another question that many with visions
Of johnson and Bermuda grass before their
eyes often ask. The answer is yes. At the
end of four years the roots are so large
that II takes good pfow and a steady
hand to cut them OFF, but 1t is as certainly
and completely killed by good blowing as
n field OF oats would be.
Its effect ON the soil Is another point OF
frequent Inquiry. On this point | will re-
fer you to the professor OF agriculture,
with the statement on my part that II
seems TO have beneficial effect. While 1t
may exhaust the potash, the fact that 1t
belongs to the liguminous class insures the
storing of nitrogen and the penetration Of
the soil TO n great depth, but its roots rem
der II porous and as supply OF humus
feel sure that II gives more and takes
less than any forage plant that can be
grown In the State
Is il good for pasture? | answer yes.
but better for hay, so ! make pnsturing
secondary consideration. After 1t has pro-
duced all that can be protitahly cut in tho
spring, the summer and fall rains VIII
bring out n small growth not sufficient to
cut, but quite valuable for grazing. l get
from three TO four months grazing each
year in this way. | have no doubt that 1t
would be profitable II used exclusively for
pasturage. but think Il would be advisable
to cut It at least the first year In order TO
got rid OF the weeds. The crown of the
root extends Just above the soil and IL
gra2ed closely, especially by horses. the
crown is liable to be bitten of and the
plant destroyed. This should be borne in
mind.
This much as to the habits OF alfalfa
and how to grow It. To make you willing.
| take 1t that 1t IL only necessary TO show
you that 1t Is profitable. TO do this | will
give you the results on three acres of two
year cid alfalfa last year--lS9S. In my
wa had pln af In ,tph Nm
spring and early summer, and ts crop was
exceptionally good. ! cut 1t four times.
| The hrst three cuttings gave me ton to
the acre each cutting, and the fourth about
half as much Throwing In the last cut
ing for good measure, this gave me threo
tons to the acre. At any rate, fed three
horses all the time and a fourth through
the winter. and also had four head OF
cattle in my lot all winter that were ire
quently fed from the same source. aud
sold two tons at S12 a ton, If l had sold
1t all, II would easily have brought me
500, and allowing SIS for cutting and bal
ing, n liberal estimate, 1t would give me
net profit of $50 per acre.
This year. owing to an exceptionally dry
/ winter and spring, the crop so far, June 10,
has been smaller than have over known.
| do not think that the cotton lands have
! any advantage over the uplands in produc-
/ ton of alfalfa. except In the greater fer
tlity of the soil, ! have seen only two
| fields OF alfalfa in the bottoms, and my
| little sandy land patch was betAr than the
poorest, and as good as the best OF tbs
two. Give me n piece OF sandy land. OF
sufficient fertility, and | would feel AS
safe In guaranteeing a good stand and
crop of alfalfa as would in guaranteeing
good stand and crop OF corn or cotton
The essential points are fertility and thor
ough preparation of the soil. The next
most important point is early fall sowing.
With these conditions fulfilled there
should be no question az to the result
one great trouble is that so many farm
ers do not know their A, d, C's in the
fertilization and preparation OF their
lands. They. rule, build their COW
pens and lots on hill side, where all
the manure is washed off into the gullies
and finally finds way into tho gulf of
Mexico. apparently not realizing that 1t
ls Just so much capital thrown into the
sea. They also seem to have an Idea that
when crop is TO be sown all that It Is
necessary to do is to pillow 1t In and drag
brush over 1t.
| would like to preach the gospel OF
alfalfa In the ears OF every farmer in
Texas, especially the small farmer. With
a fiye-acre Patch on every ffty-acrc farm
In Texas. and | am sure that such con
diton is entirely practical on 90 per cent
of all the farms east of the Colorado,
the day OF emancipation from the thrall-
dom OF King Cotton will have dawned.
When this condition Ia realized. visions OF
prosperity that like the cup OF Tantnlus.
have euded the grasp OF our Woodworking
men and women until. discouraged and
sick at heart. they are ready to say that
even hope has fed, will have become
dongibe realities Democracy, populism.
republicanism. tariff trusts and money
standards--all subjects well worth the
careful study of every American citizen.
as economic craftsmanship into insig-
nihcance when compared with this simple
subject am told that the thrifty Hol-
lander pays $4,000 per acre rent puis
his land in grass and lives well on his
margin. This is enough. When you go
home, talk alfalfa. Next fall plant alfalfa,
and thus forward the policy OF diversif-
cation that is TO be the redemption OF our
great State.