Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-14
ALFALFA CULTIVATION.
Thsre Is a Big Profit In This Kind Of For
age Crops.

age Crops.
Throughout the stock raising west the
cultivation of alfalfa is increasing at a
wonderful rate. 1t is the king of the
clover family, and an invaluable crop
for the stock farm, being almost an
ductive. It's merit has long been recog-
nized, and the acreage in the west is
being constantly increased. The south
west is the home of the plant, and it
here reaches it's heaviest yield and most
thrifty growth. The day that sees SO, 900
acres of alfalfa growing in n section
will see a prosperous population of at
least 10000 people.
The Denver Field and Farm sets forth
some of the plants advantages in the
following article, and in reading it
should be remembered that what is true
about it in Colorado is doubly so here,
its native home. The yield is larger
here and the prices a great deal higher,
and the latter will be maintained for
years to come.
alfalfa has demonstrated most fully
the past year it's capability to be crown-
ed king of all forage crops. 1t is often
said that corn Is king, but when COM
pared with alfalfa it must take a back
seat. For instance, let us compare the
two in point of profit: Suppose a farmer
grows fifty bushels Of corn to an acre,
and allowing 80 cents a bushel, which is
too high for the average, he will receive
SIS as the gross returns therefrom. TAX
ing the cost Of blowing, narrowing, seed,
planting, and at least three civilizations,
and the net profit will not be more than
SIS an acre. The following year the same
process must be gone over, together
with fertilizing to keep up the maxi
mum crop. Now for alfalfa:
1.-THE ground must be prepared the
same as for corn, and the planting done
much the same as for a wheat crop.
Then there Is no more labor to be ex-
pended upon it in this country, where
September, when a ton of hay can be
cut, ordinarily worth IS. The following
year a disc harrow may be run over
the meadow and then three cuttings of
which should average four and one-half
tons, worth 22.50. Farmers who under
stand their business have been putting
the hay in stack for 80 cents a ton, leav-
ing a net profit of $3.50 an acre. The
field can be cutindefinitely if so desired
with a heavier crop each year, and in
stead of the. land becoming depleted it
grows richer continuously, for alfalfa
assimilates nitrogen from the air and
holds it in the soil through it's root nu-
dulles. If this crop is fed on the farm, as
it should be, the profit is doubled.
1.-THE greatest element Of alfalfa is
protein, and when a small portion of
bran, peas, soy beans or corn is added
we have the most completely balanced
ration for all kinds of stock. This is the
secret Of success in lamb feeding, and
is the reason that Colorado fed lambs
top all markets on which they are
placed. Our dairy cows and horses
know little other forage than alfalfa.
Hogs run in alfalfa fields all summer,
are then given thirty days on grain and
are ready for market. In the winter
time stock hogs live on alfalfa hay
alone. Many farmers who have been
growing wheat will this year seed their
land to alfalfa, thus exchanging a prob
lematical crop to one of sure profit. In
the Arkansas valley one firm received
an order for forty-five car loads of baled
alfalfa a week from December 1 to April
!, but could not fill it, for there was no
such surplus after providing for the
feeding operations going on in that Sec
ton. Hence a large acreage will this
year be planted to supply the outside
markets.
we have been much amused at the
opinions of some eastern experimenters
with this great forage crop. They seem
to strain at a camel to swallow a gnat.
They argue that their soil is not Just
right or the summers too dry or the
winters too cold, etc. We of Colorado
have every variety of soil and altitude,
and If alfalfa seed should be planted in
any place in the state except perhaps
on the high mountain peaks. we should
have a crop. One man who lives at an
elevation Of 1000 feet at the foot Of a
high mountain, with a stony but rich
soil, recently purchased in Denver a a
load Of alfalfa seed, which he will put
in on ground plowed last fall. He has
been growing alfalfa there for fifteen
years, and Is not afraid Of it. We are
satisfied to let the valley states grow
corn, while we will pin our faith to the
great legume."