Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-12
ALFALFA EXPERIMENT
Webster City Man Harvests
Twenty-Eight Tons From
Five Acres of Ground
HAMILTON COUNTY SOIL TESTED
Mr.. George w. Lees Experiment Shows
That 1t is Adapted to the Culture of
the Valuable Product, Alfalfa, and
Few Other Farmers in His Locality
Are Also Experimenting.
Special to Times-Republican.

Webster City, Sept 12.-As the re-
suit of an experiment George w. Lee
of this city last week completed the
harvest OF twenty eight tons of alfalfa
hay from just a little less than five
acres of ground. The crop was raised
on what is known as the l.. d. Allen
property, near the Central railroad
bridge. A few years ago Mr. Lee
began the experiment by planting tim
othy and alfalfa together. From this
combination small amount of alfalfa
that the timothy crowded it out. The
experimenter was not discouraged at
this, but resolved upon securing fur
Their information as to the culture OF
this hay. Accordingly he correspond
ed with seed growers, and by the IN
formation thus secured has been en-
abled to produce better than an aver
age Of five and half tons to the acre.
The second planting was OF clear al
falfa seed and was put in the ground
in May a year ago. In August OF the
same year the first cutting was made
with all average yield OF about two
tons to the acre. The plants were
ter. and came on in nice shape last
spring. The first cutting this year
was made in the first week in July and
about sixteen tons We're taken in the
best of condition. The second cutting
was made last week and altho the
yield was little less. twelve tons OF
equally as good hay was secured. With
frost holding off until the last of this
month another cutting could be made,
but Mr.. Lee has decided to let it go
the balance Of the year for pasture. He
says, however, IL growth Of nearly six
inches has been made since the last
cutting. He is we'll pleased with the
experiment and thinks that now the
roots have gone to sufficient depth
that there is no danger from drouth.
Alfalfa has proven to be the saliva
ton Of some of the western states,
among them Nebraska and Colorado.
In these states three crops a year are
sidered q good fair yield. However.
no crop is harvested the first year, and
but slight ones the second. The roots
are supposed not to have reached
maturity until after the third year.
The hay is considered the best and
strongest of any grown for all kinds
of feeding. Dairy cows keep in good
flesh and produce well Of rich quail
ity of milk on no other feed than
alfalfa hay. Hogs do well on this alone
as do also horses. Hundreds of the
work horses of the west seldom get
grain of any kind, but keep in good
condition and work we'll on an every
day fare of alfalfa. These states raise
it by irrigation. A field once started
is considered practically permanent
with occasional fertilizing.
Mr.. Lees experiment shows that
some Hamilton county soil at least is
adapted to the culture of this valuable
product. The yield shows also that it
does exceptionally well where 1t can
be grown, in this case doing better the
second year that it is commonly sup
clusively. This patch is on low river
bottom land. The first years crop
contained some weeds and other grass
es, but this year 1t is pure alfalfa. Mr..
Lee is confident that it can be raised
on most OF the river farms and is sure
that in the course of time the farmers
Of Iowa will give more attention to
this product than they ever have in
the past A few farmers in this To-
cality have been experimenting. r.
G. Stearns planted an acre this spring
which has made a good start. He has
watched Mr.. Lees experiment with a
great deal of interest. A hay that will
yield three crops a year. and that pro-
duces twenty eight tons on a little
less than five acres at the first two
cuttings, is one that the farmers should
investigate. Alfalfa is considered SUI
perior to either timothy or clover.
The roots grow deep and when once
started we'll they are long lived. It is
a fact well known where the hay grows
that the roots reach to a depth Of
twenty-five and thirty feet, and N
some instances have been known 10
go to a much greater depth. This
makes it a safe crop in dry seasons,
as the roots grow until they encounter
moisture. Mr.. Lee hopes to see others
take up the matter of alfalfa culture,
and will gladly furnish such informa-
ton as he can ON the matter.
NC STAMPS ON MAIL.