The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-07
HOW he HANDLES 1T.
One Oklahoma Farmers Experience
With Alfalfa.

WIKI RtISsIas
Guthrie. O. T., April 6.-Oklahona peo-
/ pie and especially the new settlers have
/ interested themselves in alfalfa. Some
/ farmers have much success in alfalfa
raising, but the majority have had moth
4 ing but failures. The new corners from
! Kansas and Nebraska believe that alfalfa
/ is the thing for Oklahoma and are try
1 ing it. A well known agriculturalist has
given his experience in alfalfa raising for
/ the Hennessey Press-Democrat He says:
Sir: I am requested by so many peo-
pie to write up my experience in regard
to alfalfa as a crop for this country. I
hope you will give space in your paper
for this article
have always done more or less ex-
detrimental farming, and from the fact
that the continual raising of wheat on
any. soil. exhausts and impoverishes the
soil. the question is, what is the best
! crop method to enrich the soil, and at
the same time make it a paying crop?
In my opinion there is nothing equal
to alfalfa, for the following reasons:
First-It is the best crop for a dry eli
mate standing long spells Of drought II
requires a deep sandy loan by nature,
steadily it penetrates the SOL to a great
er depth than any other plant L am ac-
quainted with penetrating downward
until it reaches moisture
Second-It is fully equal to any Of the
varieties Of clover as a forage plant, for
milk and butter, and nearly as good for
hogs as any Of them. If cut in the bloom
and property cured. When wilted, It
and remain until cured, and then put in
the barn Immediately, or if stacked out
of doors. covered with some other forage
like cane. to keep it dry. Tor it does not
shed water wen.
THRIFT VIII make three crops a year,
leaves in any season, put the great adj
vantage here is that 1t comes six weeks
earlier than any other grass, and re-
mains green until January and February.
giving early pasture in the spring for six
weeks after taking stock of the wheat
before there is any native pasture. And
then. when the native grass has dried up
in the fan. you VIII have nice alfalfa
pasture until January OF February.
I have five acres that I have kept from
eleven to fifteen head of calves on, the
whole year, as all Of my neigbbors VIII
testify. and IL seems TO stand It hetter
than any native grass. The same treat
ment would use up any Of the native
grasses
Besides pasturfag my calves % the
grass the year round. have cut one
crop OF Of the ground every year. Peo-
pie are making fatal mistake ia not
sowing alfalfa There should be psteh
on every farm. II is claimed by an al
faIfa growers hat 1t does not stand pas
turing very well and ! must confess that
I an much surprised. never treated 2
plece If pasture IS bad IN mv lif= az3
led as close IS / have my alfalfa. Tha
great mistake most people make in sov-
ing Is ii not properly fliing the grouo5
and aslng seed enough The grouud n
% rIovzea deep. and thoroughly har-
-oVed especially. II the Eronua IS Get
Sandy enough - blow. vcu should Fst s
Gre q seed bed rs possible. ard as free
from weads as il caa BE. gov - hsH1
sna harrow. y better Brush 81 F1ftesa
pounds 70 the acre 1T least shoag ~
saEn - - to have = Eo9a staaa frsn
ine start heeauss q does rat spread ard
shiesea p Taa wan1 sana fram
t1a ets-t So as &C. sceeny an ths gr1eaa
s th-a are anr prf@as en the groni
- re and rsa re 1wer eer the
~ az 3an a. TIE vreess ~ eraaaraa
grass sr ghs Sigh ard ast &
"a fne rra rrote1t5sn q fhs ef
f -g sv she's ~ -
nt E1 tE4 frost $ ~ aes -
aaa I there are aay
sh gfaera e Eri1a sras zf $500