The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-20
AGRICULTURAL.
ALFALFA.

ALFALFA. Since my article on alfalfa appeared in these columns I have had a favorable opportunity to further investigate the claims made for the value of this won derful plant, and the more I see of al- falfa the more I am convinced of its value; and further that we cannot sing it's praises too long or too loud. The as- tonishing thing about 1t Is that so val uable a plant should have been allowed to remain comparatively unl nown to so | much country where it may be grown to perfection. Why have we been so slow in learning of the wonders of alfalfa?
 In my later investigations l am fully convinced that I did not say word too much for this wonderful plant in my former articles-perhaps not enough Since writing that article have traveled entirely across the republic of old Mex leo, part of my mission being to study and investigate what I had read of al- falfa in this country. Besides my trip to Mexico I have also visited the great a. alfa fields of Texas, Oklahoma and southeast Missouri.
 In old Mexico I found alfalfa growing in all sections where there was water 1 did not find the large fields that l had read about, but instead found thousands of acres in small bodies. small valleys all of which was growing luxurantly and giving satisfactory yields Of both pas ture and hay It is the main hay crop of Mexico, barley hay being a good sec ond Here in Mexico alfalfa is great soiling crop, it being cut and fed green to all stock. In many sections there are no fences. and so stock have to be herded out or else alfalfa cut and fed to them The peon farmers cut and tie up the green alfalfa In punches of fifteen pounds load a burrow-the beast Of bur- den in that country-with these bundles and drive them into the cities, where they are sold for 25 cents per bunch. It Is a | good business. as there Is always a ready sale for all that is brought in. 1 One can see perhaps as many as fifty burrows standing around the market square loaded with these punches Of al- falfa. The Mexican never thinks once of relieving the poor little faithful bur | row of it's load until he sells the goods he bears. They allow these little bur rows to stand around the market for per haps half day or longer loaded with great sacks of grain. coffee. hay lum- Der and various other heavy freight. we l would not tolerate such barbarity In this country.
 Alfalfa In Mexico.
 Alfalfa has been cultivated in Mexico for ages yet it's introduction into this country until within the last few years  ton of alfalfa came no doubt from the mistaken idea that has long prevailed | that alfalfa could be grown only in favored sections on certain kinds of soil. | We are just beginning to find out that l alfalfa may be proftably grown on a | great many soils and we are also learn | ing how these soils should be prepared in order to succeed The best soil in | Mexico, as well as in Colorado and all i cta tq in all these sections the growing of all | falfa will always be a question of water | anl irrigation while in the central west ern and southern states we are able 10 | grow fine Providence crops of alfalfa, and l this will give to the farmers of these sections a great advantage in the cost of production.
 | The irrigation farmer. where there is sufficient supply of water, however, will have this advantag ge-that of always being sure of a crop, with no drouth to fear
 In Texas and Oklahoma may be found the finest fields of alfalfa in the world all growing as Providence crops, and ws might also include in the list Louisiana Mississippi and Alabama, while in thu Indian Territory there is much land suit ed for alfalfa growing. In southeast Mis- souri we find some of the finest of land! for alfalfa, though in many of thes' lands there is too much water In thu
 subsoil and some system of drainage will be needed to correct the acidity Q this soil. Drainage canals are now being dug all through this section and it I only a question of short time when VI will see in southeast Missouri some o the finest and largest alfalfa fields of th' world They have room here to mak' such fields, and besides the farmers O.
 this section have a deep, rich alluvia soil that may be kept up to the very highest state of cultivation at a mini mum cost.
 Promising Section in Missouri.
 Southeastern Missouri is one of oul most promising sections for the devel opment of alfalfa. Already hundreds O acres have been planted in this section but the critical or experienced eye cal see at once that nearly all these crop have been sown without a proper knowl edge of soil drainage and such soil prepa ration as the soil requires. The land
 of this section will not produce fin, crops of alfalfa until this subsoi drain age and lining has been provided. Herr in this section where the great Mississip pi river has overfiowed the country oftel for ages burying under vast amounts O vegetation until there is a great amour of organic matter in the soil, so that th soil has all the humus needed Unde this condition it might be advisable t use both potash and phosphoric acid say, from two to three hundred pound acii phosphate and fifty to one hundred pounds muriate of potash per acre Thi
 fertilizer is to be applied in the fall just before sowing the seed. We wnul; repeat that fall sownrs are pre'eralle Now those who have more confidenc than I in the new theory of nitro-cultur would probably say that this soil need inoculation, tha. it is deficient in tn necessary ba,.eIla. but I am sure tha al. this soil neecs is drainage and lining which will put the soil in fine mechani 'a condition and enable the farmers to g.ov | alfalfa successfully.
 Now the soil conditions in Alabama where fine fields of alfalfa may be grown are very different from those in Mis- | so,,ri, for in Ala bama the soil has beer | .ahhaa of all h,rnus by the continued cul