The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-09
MOST ANCIENT
FORAGE PLANT
VALUE OF ALFALFA KNOWN TO
,eABYLoNIANs.
BROUGHT OVER 81 SPANISH
Introduction Into United States Be-
iieved to Be Due to Mission.
aries from Spain.

aries from Spain.
Alfalfa is probably the. most ancient
forage plant of which we have any
record, says w. j. Spillman, agrostol-
egist Of the agricultural department..
1t vas cultivated extensively on the
irrigated fields Of Babylon, and it is
known to have been the principal nag
in the stables of the ancient Persian
monarchs. 1t was brought from Per-
STA to Greece about 40 B. c., and It's
cultivation began in Italy about 200
B. G. 1t is mentioned by a number
Of Latin writer's, especially Virgil,
Varro and Columella. From Italy it
vas introduced into Spain in the
sixteenth century, and thence spread
to many parts OF the world. It's in
PRODUCTION into the United States
seems to have been through the Span
ish missionaries, at an early day, go
ing up the western coast OF the con
tinent from Mexico and South Amer
lea. F.
Name Is Arabic.
The name alfalfa is of Arabic orr
gin and has persistently followed the
plant throughout Latin America and
into those parts OF America in which
the Spaniards introduced it. The
plant is not unknown in the eastern
United States, having been introduced
a number of times from western. Eu-
rope, particularly from France, where
it is known as "lucerne," but it has
never gained a foothold in the east,
at least until the last few years. 1t
is now being introduced under it's pro-
per name, alfalfa" At present there
is a genuine craze among the farm
ers of the eastern half of the United
States concerning this plant and
some of it's more important varieties.
1t will undoubtedly become the lead
ing hay crop of the east in those sec
tons where soil and climate favor
it's development. ~.
Is Somewhat Particular. .
Unfortunately alfalfa is somewhat
particular a regards soil and climate.
From it's habits OF growah it is not
suited to heavy clay soils, or soils
%underlayed by clay hardpan. Its
roots penetrate very deeply and ii the
soil IT OF proper texture it is no un-
common thing for the roots to pene-
trate from fifteen to twenty feet. In
exceptional instances roots have been
known to penetrate the soil more than
a hundred feet. This great depth OF
root growth enables alfalfa to draw
up stores OF plant food that gives it
great longevity. Many alfalfa fields
in the west are yielding good crops
of hay after having been cut twenty
five years. It is seldom wise to leave
a field of alfalfa for SO long a time
as this, because plants will be killed
out here and there by tramping, max
ing the stand thinner and thinner
and Acknowledgements to get a start;
but as long a the stand is good and
weeds do not bother there is no object
in blowing up an alfalfa field.
For it's best development this crop
requires a deep sandy loan free from
standing water within several feet OF
the surface; abundant water to be
preferably applied at stated intervals
by irrigation, in not too large quanti-
ties; long hot summers and winters
not too severe. Where these condi-
tions exist alfalfa has no competitor
as a hay producer, but it will thrive
on a good many types of soil; in fact,
almost anywhere except in stiff clays,
light dry sands and vet soils. The
great value of alfalfa lies in its great
yielding power, it's p%alatability to stock
and the large amount OF nitrogen 1t
contains. Most Of the hay crops OF
this country contain too little nitrogen
and it is necessary for the stockman
to make up this deficiency by buying
expensive mill products, such as cot
tonseed meal, linseed oil cake, etc.
Alfalfa is one of those plants which
draw a large amount OF nitrogen from
the atmosphere. 1t enriches the
ground Upon which it grows as far as
nitrogen is concerned, and it has
been found that, almost without e
ception, a grain crop following alfalfa
u