The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-22
ALFALFA FACTS.
Secretary COburn Tells Of Its
Rise to Popularity.
Has Larger Acreage Than Any
Tame Grass.
JEWELL in THE LEAD.
Nearly as Many Acres as Whole
State i'm 1891.
Ninety-Nine of 1O5 Counties
Grow Alfalfa.

Alfalfa has been officially recognized
in Kansas for an even dozen years, and
during that time it's popularity has
steadily increased. Prior to 1890 it was
not deemed of sufficient Importance 10
be taken notice of n the statistics Of
the state board of agriculture. Now.
and for the first time. it has a larger
acreage than any other tame grass, its
area being over 45S,O00 acres. according
to the sworn returns of assessors now
being complied and tabulated by Sec
rotary F. d. Coburn.
The following. concerning the prog
ress and growth of alfalfa in Kansas
has been L epared by Secretary Coburn
of the state board of agriculture:
Timothy has been alfalfa's leading
competitor in area until this year, when
the returns proclaim it's field is lbs, 6a7
acres or 80 per cent smaller than that
devoted to alfalfa. 1t is an interesting
fact also that as early as the fourth
year of a1falfa's statistical record $3.50
its area exceeded by $4,000 acres that
of the clOyerS for the same year. and
each canvass since has shown an in
creased difference in favor of the for
mer. Indeed statistics indicate that for
Kansas, alfalfa is being found superior,
by those who have had experience with
them, to timothy or clover. 1t not only
is a perennial legume, of unusual pow
erS of resistance to protracted dry
weather, as against timothy and the BIZ
ennial clovers of less fortitude, but an
luduy yl0luS from Two 10 three IlInoS DIS
much feed equally or more nutritious.
and is a remarkable soil renoyatOr be-
sides. These facts in large measure ac-
count for the marvellous increase in ap-
probation and sowing of alfalfa, as dis
closed by the figures. In 1891, of the
tame grasses, alfalfa ranked fifth in
area, with 34,3S4 acres; in 1902, first, with
1854 acres, a gain of 424.109 acres. or
1898 per cent and an increase over 1901
of 1895 acres, or 1896 per cent.
n n eli Eiv1T VI
led all other counties in acreage: in
1898, Butler was first with 12,029 acres
in 1899, Jewell forged ahead with 1920
acres. which position has been retained
having in 1902 1896 acres, which lacks
but little of eQualing the total for the
state in 1891. In that year there were
nine counties having 1000 or more
acres; this year there are 6S; in 1891
there was one county. Finney, having
over 5000 acres; now there are 80, fifteen
of which have 10000 acres and upwards.
to 1896 in Jewell. In 1891 these Is
counties had total of Ia. 4S3 acres: in
1901, 159,z82 acres. and in 1902 225 113
acres, a gain over last year of 65 $50
acres, or Al 1-3 per cent. and an in
crease in II years of 210,630 acres, or ia
per cent. This year the combined acre
age of the 26 highest ranking counties
surpasses the total for the entire state
in 1901
Alfalfa can be grown in any county
in the state. and 80 of the los report a
greater or less area devoted to this
wonderful plant Eighty-four counties
show a total gain of 142.5O4 acres: Is
lose 3,153 acres. and five make no
change from last year. Among the
counties showing the greatest gains in
area for the year. and their per cents.
are: Jewell, 1882 acres, or 54.5 per cent
Smith, 1852 acres. or 93.1 per cent: Re
public, 1868 acres, or 6S.2 per cent; But
Ter, 5,9S2 acres or 1871 per cent; Marion,
5,087 acres. or 72.4 per cent: Norton A.
$50 acres. or "a per cent: Decatur A.
253 acres. or 70.7 per cent: Greenwood,
1884 acres, or 48 per cent; Phillips, 1879
acres, or 43.5 per cent. and Sedgwick.
3,097 acres. or 1863 per cent. Even more
striking are the showings afforded by
the percentages of gain in area in the
past year. in these counties: Cherokee,
ZIG per cent: Bourbon. 5O7 per cent:
johnson, 457 per cent: Anderson. 373
per cent; Neosho. $40 per cent; Allen, 1877
per cent; Franklin. 1927 per cent: etc
1.-THE following table shows. according
to their rank, the present leading Is
counties in alfalfa in Kansas, with their
alfalfa acreage in 1902. and also in 1901
nd