Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-05-26
MORE ABOUT ALFALFA.


We have several inquiries about al
falfa-when and how to SOW. the sort
Of soil best suited TO IL, whether 10 SOW
with nurse crop or sow In the fall or
In the spring, whether the frosts In
the northern part OF the country kills
II out and why this legume is not more
generally grown through the corn belt.
In general way we have answered
many OF these inquiries before, but In
asmuch as there is more interest being
taken In the growth of alfalfa than any
other new crop ever tried within TIE
limits of the corn belt we give a some
what extended review of the plant and
the possibilities of its growth. Alfalfa
is one of the oldest plants known to
man. In Europe It passes under the
name OF lucern, or German clover. 1t
is perennial and under favorable con-
ditions has been known TO live for as
long as forty-five years 1t possesses
some peculiar and distinctive character
istics, one the remarkable rapidity with
which IL will reproduce itself when cut,
from four to five crops a year being
easily obtainabe under the best condi-
lions. 1t carries the largest per cent OF
protein Of any plant grown. save the
soy bean, and more nearly than any
other plant available will enable the
farmer In the corn belt to prepare a
perfectly balanced ration for all of the
stock on his farm. Its roots penetrate
very deeply into the ground, seeking
permanent moisture, which renders IL
almost Indifferent TO the effect OF ordi
nary droughts. Being u legume 1t pos
sesses In high degree the property OF
enriching the soil in which 1t grows
While great success has been made
OF the growing Of alfalfa in nearly all
Of the territory west of the Missouri
river clear TO the Pacific, for some rea-
son failure has largely attended an
effort 10 grow II east Of the Missouri
through the great area OF the corn belt
The reason Of this is now determined
to be the lack OF proper soil inocula.
ton or the absence of the bacterial life
necessary TO the growth Of the plant.
When sown on soil barren OF this bac-
teria il almost invariably failed, but
the last two years have demonstrated
that when the soil Is properly inoculat-
ed IL may be grown with success al
most anywhere through the corn belt
OF the value OF this plant too much
cannot be said, especially for the dairy
man and the hog raiser. At the
worlds fair alfalfa hay constituted a
large part Of the ratlons fed 10 the
cows which took part In the 100 day
test. and whenever fed 10 milk cows
ii has invariably increased the milk
yield in remarkable manner. Hogs
fed in an alfalfa pasture or fed the
chopped hay In winter time are always
more thrifty and healthy than when
fed on any other food. While alfalfa
cannot be used easily as q rotation
crop on q corn farm, its value IS still
SO great that when a man has secured
healthy field Of alfalfa he ON well
afford TO keep 1t In that crop as long
as 1t will live.
Answering again few OF the many
questions asked, we say: Prepare
good seed bed, SOW twenty pounds OF
seed in August and do not cut the first
season. Next year cut at least three
times. Inoculate the soil either with
the government bacteria solution sup.
piled by the agricultural department or
procure inoculated soil from some
healthy field Of alfalfa. We do not
know Of any one thing which would
prove Of as great value TO the average
farmer within the limits Of the corn
belt as for him TO secure from five 10
ten acres Of alfalfa on his farm. Sow
a patch this year and see the hogs
grow and the cows give milk.