Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-03-13
About Alfalfa.
BY Dr.: w. IL Steele

EDITORS OF DEMOCRAT: Alfalfa,
though new to this country, is not a
new product by any means. 1t has
been one of the best paying crops
grown in Europe for over two thous-
and years. 1t was introduced into
this country by the early Spaniards,
in the valley Of the Rio Grande.
Very likely the first Yankee"
who ever saw a 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
decades since the first little patch
was sown in the Platte Valley, it has
grown in favor so rapidly, with
the Nebraska farmer, that the
crop Of 1905 will be cut from over
3oo, 900 acres, and the average will
be- greatly increased by this years
seeding.
There is a reason for this grow
ing popularity of alfalfa. It is par
ticularly adapted to the soil and eli
mate 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 corn
saving and stock growing food is
well known and the certainty Of a
crop, even in the driest season,
makes it invaluable to the farmers
of the west. Cattle and hog feed
ers say that, by a judicious use of
alfalfa, much larger profit and
much better results are being OBJ
tanned than from any other method.
The dairy, cattle and sheep feeding
industries are greatly increased, and
several minor industries, such as
honey and poultry raising are being
stimulated and are capable of much
greater development.
Alfalfa is destined to work Won
ders in the dairying industry. It
has the two paramount qualities to
enable it to do this; low cost Of pro-
duction in localities adapted to it,
and the superior quality of butter
produced while feeding it. Prime
alfalfa hay is very palatable, and be-
ing easily digested and Of cooling
or laxative tendency has an effect
on the butter fat similar to green
pasture. With it the June condi-
tions, which are the most favorable
to the production Of the finest quail
ity and largest quantity, can more
nearly be maintained and at les
cost than with any other single food.
Professor Otis, OF the Kansas Ag-
ricultural College, in speaking Of
the benefits of alfalfa to the dairy.
man, says: "Who can estimate the
gain to agricultural industry which
will come when the alfalfa districts
producing an excess Of protein, be
come the dairy districts in which
the COWS will double or triple theil
accustomed yield?"
The best mutton on the market
comes from the alfalfa districts anc
the sheep growers who have alfalfa
hay can put lambs on the market il
less time and at less cost, and will
greater profit, than with any othel
kind or forage feed.
1t is becoming more popular ev
cry season as a poultry food. 1t il
rich in nitrogen which is necessar.
for the production Of the albumel
in eggs and essential to the growtl
of young fowls. All kinds of poul
try relish the tender, green alfalfa
especially if they are kept in small
yards. 1t is very succulent am
makes good poultry food as a silage
Alfalfa is the greatest honey plan
known to modern agriculture.
is superior to white clover, swee
clover or buckwheat, and honey j
being produced in sections of th
, west, now, and sold at a low price
, where it was luxury before the in
PRODUCTION of this plant. When
is understood that alfalfa produce
from three to four crops each se'
j, son, any bee-keeper will readily III
. derstand what grand bee-pastul
a an alfalfa field would make. Thou
/ ands Of acres in Nebraska and Kal
sas produce four crops each year {
the uplands, where the bee hourlsl
s es, producing from 40 to 100 poun'
of honey per hive. In speaking