The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-19

amount of 1t for the proper nourish- ment Of her body, as the best type of dairy COW Is practically devoid of fat,
 her body consisting of a well-nourish- ed set of muscles and a highly organ | fzed circulatory and nervous system. Under the circumstances. 1t was nntu-
 ral to look for a roughness that could
 take the place of part of the concen | trates among those plants that yield the largest amount of digestible pro- tein. It was found that there were a | whole family of these plants known as legumes suited to a wide range of cul- ture. Among the number especially adapted for Southern conditions were the cowpea, red clover. soy bean. velvee bean and alfalfa. Realizing the Vital | relation of the question at issue to the daily industry of the South, system-
 attic series of experiments were com menced at the Tennessee experiment station in 1902 for the purpose Of as- certaining to what extent the substitu- tions suggested could be made and which of the several crops rich in pro- tein could be grown and utilized to the best advantage for this purpose. The cowpea being well adapted for culture throughout the South was the first con sidered. It was shown in the experi- ments of 1902 that 1t could be substi- tuted with profit for part of the cot ton seed meal or wheat bran required by the COW. These results were so in- teresting that second experiment was planned for the same purpose with the cowpea.
 Can Alfalfa be Utiiisedf
 Before passing to the general con- sideration of the results of the experi- ments, 1t will not be inappropriate to xx,itI rofn cultivation of alfalfa, a crop which promises great things when rationally handled. This crop has been a great success in the Western country, but large number of failures have been recorded in the Eastern and southern States. It was believed for a long time that the crop was not suited 10 our climatic conditions. but recent fn- vestigations would seem to indicate that the trouble was not so much due to the climate, but rather to the soil which did not contain the bacteria which live in the nodules on it's roots, and give it the power of assimilating atmospheric nitrogen without which It can not grow and thrive for an indefi- mite period. The soils of the South are as a rule deficient in vegetable matter and hence low in available nitrogen When the alfalfa plant Is not inoculat- ed 1t draws on the nitrogen supply In the soil. When this Is exhausted the crop dies out and disappears Such at least has been the experience of many who have endeavored to cultivate it. By inoculating the soil properly, very simple operation. enriching 1t with vegetable matter in the form of farm yard manure of cowpeas plowed un-
 der, good stands of alfalfa have now been obtained on many upland farms. and the crop successfully utilized for | hay for several years past. Alfalfa likes a rich soil and will give | It's best results on bottom lands that
 are not subject to prolonged overfows.
 but on thoroughly prepared clay up- lands. carefully subsoiled, cultivated and enriched, as indicated, there is no reason why 1t can not be grown under great variety of conditions. It is | more likely to succeed on stock farms because of the abundance of farmyard manure available for the enrichment of the soil and the growing crop.
 One of the chief difficulties expe-
 rienced by alfalfa growers has been the destruction of the stand while young through the encroachment of crab grass. This difficulty can be ob- | viated by preparing the land and seed ing early in the fall. It Is proper to say at this time that greater care must be exercised in the preparation of the | soil and the general management of the | crop than has been accorded to the
 lands which grow red clover fairly