Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1905-12-07
About Growing Alfalfa.

Alfalfa, though new to this country, is
not new product by any means. 1t
has been one of the best paying crops
years. 1t was introduced into this coun-
try by the early Spaniards, in the valley
of the Rio Grande.
Very likely the first Yankee" who
ever saw field of alfalfa was Lieutenant
Pike at the time he was captured by the
MeXicans and marched down through
the irrigated fields of the beautiful Rio
Grande valley.
Though it has been less than three de-
cades since the first little patch was sown
in the Platte valley, it has grown in favor
so rapidly, with the Nebraska farmer,
over 900, 900 acres, and the average will
be greatly increased by this years seed
ing.
There is reason for this growing
popularity of alfalfa. 1t is particularly
adapted to the soil and climate of the
west and is the surest and best paying
forage crop that can be grown in this
part of the country, year after year under
all conditions.
The great value of alfalfa as a corn
saving and stock growing food is we'll
known and the certainty of a crop, even
in the driest season, makes it invaluable
to the farmers of the west. Cattle and
hog feeders say that, by a judicious use
of alfalfa, much larger profit and much
better results are being obtained than
from any other method. The dairy
cattle and sheep feeding industries are
greatly increased and several minor in
dustries, such as honey and poultry rails
ing are being stimulated and are capable
of much greater development.
Alfalfa is destined to work wonders in
the daring industry. 1t has the two
paramount qualities to enable it to do
this; low cost of production in localities
adapted to it, and the superior quality of
butter produced while feeding it. Prime
alfalfa hay is very palatable, and being
easily digested and of cooling or laXa-
tive tendency has an effect on the butter
fat similar to green pasture. With it the
June conditions, which are the most
favorable to the productian of the finest
quality and largest quantity, can more
nearly be maintained and at less cost
than with any other single food.
Professor Otis, of the Kansas Agricul-
tural college, in speaking of the benefits
of alfalfa to the dairyman, says: "Who
can estimate the gain to agricultural in
dustry which will come when the alfalfa
districts, producing an excess of protein,
become the dairy districts in which the
COWS will double or triple their accus-
toned yield?'
The best mutton on the market comes
from the alfalfa districts and sheep grow
ers who have alfalfa hay can put lambs
on the market i'll less time and at less
cost, and with greater profit than with
any other kind of forage food.
II is becoming more popular every sea-
son as poultry food. 1t is rich in nitro
gen which is necessary for the production
of the albumen III eggs and is essential to
| the growth of young fowls. All kinds OF
poultry relish the tender green alfalfa,
especially if they are kept in small yards
| 1t is very succulent and makes good
| poultry food as a silage.
Alfalfa is the greatest honey plant
known to modern agriculture. 1t is
superior to white clover sweet clover or
buckwheat, and honey is being produced
| in sections of the west now, and sold at
low price, where it was a luxury before
the intr )duction of this plant When il
is understood that alfalfa produces frou
three to four crops each season, auy bee
keeper will readily understand what a
grand bee pasture an alfalfa field would
make. Thousands of acres in Nebraska
and Kansas produce four crops each yeal
on the uplands, where the bee ilourishes
producing from 10 to 100 pounds of hon
ey per hive.
In speaking of alfalfa as hog pasture
OH his ranch near Kcarney, Mr.. Watson
says, "in April turned sixty hogs, som
of which were good brood sows, into al
eight-acre piece of alfalfa and kept then
there all summer, without grain during
which time they increased to 100 il
number. In the early fall, a little cor
was given them to help out the alfalfa
as the number of hogs increased 1t
my judgement that little grain shout
be given to growing pigs when pasture
on alfalfa, to stimulate their growth an
harden them" Both as a pasture aud
hay crop, the lasting qualities of an al
alta field is one of its strongest points.
have seen fields of this plant in goo
condition that the owner claimed ha
been cropped for twenty-five year.
! Others are reported to have lasted niue
longer period. 1t requires three an
[ even four wears for alfalfa 10 reach il