The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-10-20

instituate i. d. Coburn. OF Topeka.
Kansas, secretary OF the Kansas
state board of agriculture, talked for
more than an hour this morning at
the city hall on the subject of "Al-
falfa."
Mr.. Coburn's address was the only
one In the morning session. This af-
ternoon. the last session Of the Ia
stitute Is being held at the city hall
Prof. II. NJ Allen of tie experiment
station att Lexington. Ky, Is speak
ing on the subject OF "Dairying In
Kentucky" J. @. Hooper and L. s.
Good also will speak.
Coburn's Speech.
In the first address he has made In
Kentucky. Mr.. +. d. Coburn handled
the subject OF alfalfa" on which no
has achieved cons derable reputation,
before an attentive audience this
morning His talk, for so he pleased
TO name his address. was not an ora.
ton. but a plain statement OF facts
about alfalfa, and what IL meant to
other states as serious crop. lie
did not state positively what alfalfa
would do IN Kentucky. lie merely
stated facts and allowed his audi
enee to draw conclusions.
IL was evident that he thought al
falfa is a crop that will increase
the wealth OF the state lie said the
farmer who travels the single road
OF tobacco or wheat or any exclusive
crop. is headed and will arrive at the
poor house. Our land caunot stana
continuous use with one crop As a
remedy for that fact he said that al
falfa beyond a doubt had been a
most successful renoyator of the soil
In his state and other states with
which he is familiar, Alfalfa is one
OF the few crops which do not take
nitrogen from the soii--one OF the vi
tai constituents Of the soil for tobac-
co. corn or wheat. On the other hand
II actually brings nitrogen in a
large degree to the soil. lis roots
by going deep into the soil. sometimes
twenty-five feet. get nourishment
which other plants cannot reach.
Then these roots open the way for
rain, fertilizers and other beneficial
things TO get into the soil.
Alfalfa is the finest forage crop.
The yields are larger from three to
five cuttings In one season, and II
contains larger amount of proteid
than any other grass. Proteid is the
element which makes the fat and
milk. Alfalfa will grow anywhere
err 1t Is and the better tire condition,
the more will be the results. II Is a
crop which requires much attention
and above all. the farmer should not
become discouraged with the first
second or third years success. One
acre OF alfalfa contains as much food
value for cattle as three of red clover
or nine of timothy.
He had with him and showed to the
audience, a sample of alfalfa and al.
falfa seed. II was the fifth cutting
this year and he asked IL that would
not make their cows mouths water
The leaves. he said, are as rich as
wheat bran, but they must be har'
vested and handled carefully to be
saved. ''Sons OF Rest could no
raise alfalfa. Nor could Fugitive:
from Labor" IL should iba sowr
on freshly plowed ground. BE care
full to get good seed, get them tested
at the state experiment station free
and get seeds grown In the same lati
tude as this end of the state
From 10 to 90 pounds of seeC
should be used to the acre. 1t is a del
icate plant when II first comes up ant
for The first year or two should b,
attended TO carefully. II would b,
well to precede II by a crop of pc
tatoes. Frequent moving is helpful
and the liberal use of the disc har
row Is advised. The crops are clos,
together and il should be cut as sooi
as It begins to bloom. The sun i
not. he said. the best thing to use to'