The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-10-26

the leXaS arm ana hancD, Will DC
read with interest by the progressive
planters Of this State, who realize the
advantages Of diversified farming and
Of having @ plentiful supply Of for.
age for their stock Of all kinds pro-
duced with a minimum Of labor and of
cost:
"It is safe to say that in this South
western country we find 100 acres Of
alfalfa growing where only one grew
five years ago. Why this great
change2 The land, the seasons and
the people are surely the same. The
change has been wrought through
study of farm conditions. The atten-
tion Of reading, thinking land own
ers was brought to the merits Of alfal-
fa.
"That alfalfa will support work
stock in fair condition without grain,
was announced and the people began
to heed. In quick succession there
followed the statements, Alfalfa is a
the best feed for poultry; alfalfa en-
riches the soil; alfalfa lives year after
year from one seeding; alfalfa is e
sure crop if once established; alfalfa
will grow on any good corn land, and
finally, alfalfa furnishes tonic for
the human system
"But alfalfa did not grow in every
instance where tried. To begin with,
there were hundreds Of failures, yet
there were many successes. In every
county throughout the wide diversity
Of soils found in the great Southwest,
some farmers grew fine crops Of alfal-
fa. Many samples Of superior quality
found their way through mails and ex-
press to Farm and Ranch Office in
token of appreciation Of help rendered
by thissjournal.
'Many of those who failed in plant
ing failed for no fault Of their own
nor fault in the soil-the season was
unfavorable. It happens 30 with
other crops and alfalfa seed fail to
catch .at times just as we'll as wheat,
cotton or corn. The growers Of red
clover and timothy in other sections
are more accustomed to these troubles
with hay crops than are we. All that
the farmer can do is to prepare his
land thoroughly (beginning, if need
be, one year in advance with select
ed crop,) SOW the best seed with all
the care necessary to insure germina-
tion early (for fall and spring sowing)
and then guard against weeds or grass
choking the young crop, as there are
returnssfor this extra care when Start
ing the crop in some foul soils that
carry johnson grass, cockleburs and
crab grass.
"a failure with alfalfa one season
does not signify. It may arise from
one Of many apparently trivial con-
ditions. A success with alfalfa
means everything, because it shows
that the thing can be done again and
again.
"The orop ia one Of the most inter-
esting studies. Experience with it
during two OF three seasons will teach
the grower more OF soil moisture,
structure Of his farm's subsoil, fer
tility Of land, and Of the influence of
winds and sunshine than he has ever
dreamt Of in his philosophy Of farm
ing.
"Suceess with single sqUs ss rod
Of alfalfa means everything to the
man desiring so improve HE sJstemSof
raising horses, craving hogs or breed
ing cattle, sheep or goats. II once
the life; habits Of al91fa ere under
stood, its demands known, then our
ability 90 grow alfalfa proftably upon
any field of reasonable fertility will
not be doubted Cor q moment. The
plant has its pseuliarities and eccen-
tricities, as has cotton, corn and all
crops-and has 8 right 20 them. With
out these odd features &c would not
be alfalfathe king Of forage crops.'''' &
q. s. Peters, writing for tho 5aans
publication, says /. i'sss
There are several important con-
ditieas sesesgs.gS fcs. snoSssssEE 81 taas Mo- We
have observed il our expasience, first
tkeErsseFsr and h5ssass 5ssass i land TO get oest