Imperial press and farmer., 1903-03-14
ALFALFA-THE GREAT CROP FOR
 FORAUE AT PRESENT.
Able Paper From the Pen of w. J. Spill man of the United States Depart
 ment of Agriculture.

A large proportion of our readers are directly interested in growing al falfa, and even those who are not will readable article from w. J. Spillman, agrostologist of the United States de- partment of Agriculture well worth reading.
 Alfalfa is probably the most ancient forage plant of which we have any record. It was cultivated extensively on the irrigated fields of Babylon, and it is known to have been the principal hay in the stables of the ancient Per sian monarchs. It was brought from Persia to Greece about 470 B. C., and it's cultivation began in Italy about 200 B. c. It is mentioned by a num- Der of Latin writers, especially Virgil, Varro and Columella. From Italy it was introduced into Spain in the six teenth century, and thence spread to many parts of the world. It's introduc- tion into the United States seems to have been through the Spanish mis- sionaries, at an early day, going up the western coast of the continent
 
 Origin of the Name.
 The name alfalfa is of Arabic origin and has consistently 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 num- Der of times from western Europe, particularly from France, where it is known as "lucerne," but it has never gained foothold in the east, at least, until the last few years. It is now being introduced under it's proper name alfalfa" At present there is a genuine craze among the farmers of the eastern half of the United States concerning this plant and some of it's more important varieties. 1t will undoubtedly become the leading hay crop of the east in those sections where soil and climate favor it's de- velOpment.
 Alfalfa has always been the stan dard hay plant of arid America, where it is grown almost exclusively under HIISdIlOu. LII IHOS6 pdIIS Ol IlS HIT gated section where the soil and eli mate are favorable alfalfa is indeed a marvellous plant. In Southern CalifOr nia, where irrigation water is plenti full, and intelligently applied five crops of hay are cut in single sea- son, while as far north as central Washington three good crops are se- cured, and in exceptional seasons four.
 Proper Conditions Necessary.
 Unfortunately alfalfa is somewhat particular as regards soil and climate. From it's habit of growth it is not suit ed to heavy clay soils, or soils under layed by clay hardpan. It's roots pene trate very deeply and if the soil is of proper texture it is no uncommon thing for the roots to penetrate the soil 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 are unavail- ! able to ordinary crops and gives it . great longevity. Many alfalfa fields . in the west are yielding good crops . of hay after having been cut for 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 ont here and there Inv tramD- .