The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-17
FARM AND
GARDEN ~
INTERESTS

The Great Alfalfa crop.
Indiana Farmer.
There is no longer any doubt about the
success of alfalfa in this latitude and on
our best soil. Mr.. ]. E. Wing, of Ohio, in
his annual address before the farmers of
Minnesota at their State Institute, told his
remarkable experience with the crop, de-
claring that it had brought nearly eight
times as large an income as the regular old
time crops in former years. He said in
part: Alfalfa has brought greater pros
perity TO US. and to others that have sue
ceeded in making it do well, than has any
other single farm crop in the world. A
ton Of alfalfa will do more to build up
young animal than a ton OF corn. 1t is al
most equal to wheat bran, ton for ton 1t
is fine feed for work horses, cows. sheep
and lambs. brood sows and pigs and all
growing animals. We have made our corn
bring US 81 bushel by throwing in the al
falfa TIE pigs ate with it. With ordinary
hay am ,orn and wheat bran and linseed
meal our lamb and mutton used to cost us
S625 per 100 lbs. Using alfalfa and corn
only we have found that it takes a little
longer TO fatten the lambs, but they are
just as good in the end. and the cost is
only $3.50 per 100 pounds We grow all we
feed; no money paid out for bran and oil
meal. Alfalfa and corn are our crops the
greatest crops that can be grown. The al
falfa hay contains more digestible nu-
trlents than corn; Ii contains even more OF
the carbohydrates and more than three
times as much protein as corn, acre for
acre. We use il for pig pasture and for
beef cattle to run on also. 1t is No. for
both, but one must have more than one
pasture lot and never feed the crop off
closely. Turn the stock into a fresh field
as soon as they have partly eaten what was
In the first one. Then run the mower over
the pastured field and make hay of what
the animals may have left. This is apt to
be left In spots here and there. In about
two weeks the crop will spring up fresh and
be ready for pasturing again. Do not pas
ture when the plants are frozen. No stock
shouid ever be turned on alfalfa the first
year. Mr.. Wing cuts four crops in a sea-
son. The four crops make from four to
six tons OF hay per acre. More has been
grown In some sections. even up to eight
or ten tons per acre, but five tons means a
large amount of valuable feed per acre.
Remember alfalfa hay is more than 30 per
cent. richer in protein than red clover hay,
and protein is what you need with corn.
Alfalfa is not crop for short rotation, like
red clover. 1t will continue producing large
crops OF hay, when once well established,
for many years, say ten to forty, accord
ing to locality. Alfalfa increases the fer
tility OF soil probably more than red clo-
yer does. 1t roots very deeply; in fact the
roots will go down so far as there is any
ting to go after, be 1t ten feet or fifty,
providing water does not stop them.
do not put it on low, wet land. Water
must not stand in the subsoil within three
feet of the surface. The soil must be rich,
even very rich to start this crop. If it is
not very fertile you must manure il and
make 1t so. The soil must be fairly sup
piled with lime Mr.. Wing manures heav-
lily for corn and keeps the crop perfectly
clean. Pigeon grass and all such weeds
make serious trouble in alfalfa crop. Pillow
corn stubble deeper than ever before, and
roll and harrow ground until it is very
fine and firm. Mr.. Wing uses a roller
weighing Zoo pounds. The ground must be
made solid, when dry, of course, below the
seed. Put the seed in broadcast, about one
inch deep on ordinary soil, deeper on loose.
light prairie soil. 1t is usually best to
sow seed alone. However, three pecks of
oats can be put in per acre If you will cut
them for hay just as soon as they begin to
head If left to mature they will destroy
the crop usually. Now close to ground
Have land smooth so you can. If not too
many oats you can leave them on the sur
face for mulch. If the alfalfa stops
growth, when sown alone, by the time il
gets eight TO twelve inches high, and begins
to turn yellow and partly die, NOW il off
at once close TO ground