The Imperial press., 1905-08-26
Imperial Alfalfa

During the year 1903, party visited the Imperial Valley consisting of A. H. Heber, President of the California De- velopment Company, F. c. Paulin, General Manager of the Imperial Land Company, and several prominent offici- als of the Southern Pacific Company, with view to examining into the resources of the Valley. They had with them a member of the firm of Putnam & Valentine to take views of the Valley.
 Among other photographs taken was one of stalk of alfalfa that measured over ten feet in heighth. Mir. w. D. Carey of Imperial stood on the wheel of the carriage and held up this stalk with the roots up and the top just touching the ground, so it could be photographed with the gentlemen standing around as witnesses of the immense growth of only six months.
 This photograph has been used in many of the Imperial Land ompany's publications advertising the Valley since that time, and hundreds of the photographs have been sent to news paper men and others who have applied for the same, from all parts of the country.
 Recently one of these photographs fell into the hands of F. D. Coburn, Secretary of the Department of Agri- culture at Topeka, Kansas, who wrote to the Imperial Land Company for in formation about the same. In his letter of August l4th, he says;
 ''It is important to me to know if this photo is bona fide in it's showing as to the relative sizes of the alfalfa plant, the man, the carriage, etc., or whether it is made up to exaggerate the alfalfa. Could you give me the dimensions or other particulars? l would be glad if you could supply me with any alfalfa literature of any sort bearing upon the growth or manage ment of alfalfa"
 From Kansas point of view it is difficult to appreciate the magnitude of the alfalfa question as 1t is demonstrat- ed in the Imperial Valley, but few statements might be concisely formu- lated and published that bears on this question as follows:
 First. That photograph was an hon.  est one made in the presence of men most of whom had no interest in the alfalfa question except to learn the facts and none of whom would lend them selves to any trickery in connection with any such question.
 Second. Alfalfa in the Imperial Valley will produce eight crops year, in addition to several months of pasture in the winter season.
 Third. These crops will yield from one to two tons to the crop, and if properly cared for will average one and one-half tons per acre to the cutting, or a total yield of twelve tons per year.
 Fourth. During the best of the sea son the alfalfa can be cut every three or four weeks.
 Fifth. An alfalfa field easily supports three cows to the acre, and four or even five cows can be supported to the acre during the summer season by cutting and feeding instead of pasturing.
 Sixth. Hay in the stack is worth from s to $7 per ton.
 Seventh. Dairy cows-carefully sell ected for milking qualities-will yield milk that will sell at the creamery at from $6 to $l0 per month; with three cows to the acre, this would give the dairvman a monthlv income of from SIS to $30 per acre.
 These are conservative estimates for intelligent management and carefully selected cows for the dairy.
 We publish this for the benefit of our readers in general and for the Kansas Agricultural Secretary in particular. Our people are rapidly working into the dairy business on this statement of the case.
 L. M HoLT.