The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1905-06-16
Alfalfa.

There are always some farmers who
for the first time are thinking OF,
growing alfalfa This view is con-
btantly brought to the attention of
Home and Farm. And so in the in
terest Of the new readers with which
this paper is constantly favored ii is
Necessary to return to the subject |
at not very remote intervals, we try
ing every time to tell the useful story
in new way, and to add any per-
tinent fresh information arising be-
tween the previous and the present
telling.
Wherever there is a deep sandy or
very light soil in this country there
alfalfa is worth experimenting with;
Pie ideal soil for the plant being a
flight, sandy loan that is not shall
bow.
This is one Of the very greatest of
Pill legumes for enriching the soil in
nitrogen and at the same time for
furnishing the domesticated animals
with the food they need. 1t is ex-
pellent as regards both quantity and
quality of material produced, and then
the land on which 1t is most success
Jul is not the kind best fitted for most
tervice.
Inc one steady condition going
with land to be put to this use is
that it must be really free from
stagnant water; it has to be well
drained. naturally or otherwise. Thal
granted, it is well supplied with soil
hnriching roots which go deep ant
far in search of the Material need
ID
1t may be that one good fertilizinl
will be needed at the start, but tina
will suffice for a number of years
and at the outset the young alfalfi
will require to be kept free iron
weeds With this condition met, tn
= growth takes care of itself and al
lows no intruders, only reQuirin
that the gifts which it provides b
. regularly and wisely taken.
I 1t appears to be fairly held tina
lone successful alfalfa farm in
peighborhood is worth an agricultur
i eollege and a farmers institute j
teaching the doctrines in good farm
ar ing
a Certainly much of this way OF tel
Z ing truths in farming is still neede'
and as going to indicate the rang'
I. licf service which alfalfa can render v
- wish to tell of New York dairy far
a. on which 1t became decided success
a A field of twenty-five acres of it WI
thus grown. That field averaged fi'
~ lons of hay to the acre, at the san
=, time it was good for the like amoul
n yearly for a number of years al
!, lhelped the graund right along.
No wonder that farmer who So
e what was so done for the first tin
a. kaid he must have alfalfa on his oN
hlace and so determined never
~. give up until it was secured by hil
!. Alfalfa is to be regarded as GO
deal on the order of eosmopoliti
u plant Its possibilities on this a
count have not been ascertaine
n Both the soil and the climate ha
a., been extended for it in this count
IN the latest ten or twenty yea
our The service of bacteria in asncultu
-, through legumes has also become &c
-. orally understood within this sal
ma range of years.
1t is now known that though I
NJ, best soil for alfalfa is loan of I
character named. it yet does We
u lEell in some other soils. SO wor
a., out lands" of various sorts may p
M sbly be built up again. There is
- hope in this for the abandoned far
-, of New England and the worn-t
"a Fields of some cotton-growing pa
vbo pr the South.
We learn Of tough hard S
:. in Massachusetts, where the dra
- age is good, however" that is
-. ing so handled with fine prosp
~ of the best sort of outcome.
1t is up among the hills, and
owner is making the most of
material produced by buying you
- ca.tie. mostly calves, keeping tn
vs.. until grown, and then selling ther
Evidently the success is TO be
the sensible way in which brains
" mixed with everything produced {
used.
Let there be more legumes on
cry form. We have never seen IA
on which some member of this ct
Leguminosae family will not 81
and do we'll. working for its ow
zane cheerfully every day that it live
ateu working when it is dead even,
KING 1t can be made into nutritious
low and thus be put on duty at all Sc
MISS ons.
lage We specially mentioned alfalfa
lney l,nrosent in resnonse TO a particr
T. call and because in an all-round Sc
ords It is one of the most largely rel
one sentative Of the splendid family
org which It is a member.