The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1905-01-05
Prof. Newman on Almlfa.

nation in regard to the cultivation oil
the valuable forage plant, alfalfa Cned-
icago sativa) has suggested the prep
aration Of the following articles on the
subject:
This plant was not only known ana
grown by the Romans, but they knew
the fact that il was soil improNer
1t is an important member Of the
large family Of plants known TO bota'
nlsts as legumes, which alone possess
the power through the agency Of hac-
terra, which COLOMBO in nodules on
their roots, of extracting and storing
nitrogen from the air in the soil Al
though four.hrths, by volume, Of the
air. great ocean Of which battles the
surface Of our globe, is nitrogen, leg
umcs alone have the power Of extract
ing for economical purposes this nee
cssay element Of plant food. \ crop
Of alfalfa or cow peas will collect
and store from l2j to 15d pounds Of
nitrogen per acre, which il equivalent
to the quantity supplied by twelve to
fifteen tons Of ordinary stable manure,
or ton Of cottonSeed meal Of average
quality. If this quantity OF nitrogen
is purchased on the market at the
valuation quoted by the chemical de-
partment. an outlay Of irom SIS to
$50 win be necessary.
1t is not practicable for the Southern
farmer to accumulate from the i'm
tied number Of stock kept q sufficient
quantity Of manure to fcuill2c large
areas, 4 mule o. horse fed regularly
in the stall deposits. with moderate
use Of litter. an average Of one and one
half tons Of manure while by planting
lcgumcs the area fertili2cd is limited
only by the ability 70 plant and cult
vatc them. The result Of the expert
ment given below demonstrates the
fact that lcgumcs render the appllca.
ton Of nitrogen to the succeeding crops
Of nitrogen consumers unnecessary:
Fertilizer experiment with wheat
following legumes and other forage
crops, Plots contain onc-slXtecnth Of
an acre
feruuzer Bushels
De, VI ON tI SC'S ,,ol PCT a'Ie'
800 lhs acid phos,
After two years. in ,sasinitc.
200 lbs, kainit,
Plot No. 100 lbs. acid phos.
After two years in c0wpeas ....,,,.,..22.1
900 lbs. kainil
Pot NO $40 i6s {, ; neal
,r.or .,,., ,.1 sgJ 'os' uC,,t !,Ios' TO
o9O'lhS. kama ''''
Plot No. 100 lbs. acid phos,
Alter Two S0oI H ID NeNe' he"ns''''''''Is'
plo. No 5L50o ill., & < meal
4OO lbs. acid phcs.
After two years in corn".,,,.,,,..,,,lS.3
p,.. y. Ivy i 5o; n II = ~
~ 406 lbs, acid bios
After two years in cowpeas,
200 lbs KANT
Alialia mas inc advantage OF other
legumes III pelilg perennial MAYOR
WINNER OF Anderson b I" mas Il
small ned OF aIiaIia siAtE-nlne years
olu WITHOUT reneNa" Oolohel l'cuaru
PETERS the noted STOCK breeder OF
Georgia showed Inc writer held OF
aliaIra' soWh ID drIlls' that was tWen'
ly'n'e years ola ana sun Welding two
ana ohe'haI 10 llree tons OF nay per
acre Near thls was held soWn
proaacasL Whlch was choRed out by
grass ana weeds altef Few years
growth Inc Wrlter lad alfalfa sue
cessinHy grown for fourteen years
previous to 1870 Ihese facts are men
uohed TO snow that allalfa was grown
successfully ana probably long before
bacteria We're recognized as active
agents in supplying nitrogen.
lnoculatioh With soil taken from
nelds in which The alfalfa bacterium
has been developed viii Increase The
growth or alialfa, II freshly sown
where no mp0iCk had DppO prpViouelV