Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-06-28
Kansas Bank Accounts Grow With the Spread
Of Alfalfa.

Kansas IL mas Oeen q potent Iac-
tor in increasing bank deposits
and prosperity. And Kansas
leads all other states in its pro-
duction. Secretary Coburn has
prepared some figures showing
the remarkable increase in the
production and acreage of alfalfa
in Kansas during the last few
years. He issued an alfalfa"
statement Yesterday which fol-
lows:
Since the considerable intro
duction of alfalfa into Kansas ff-
teen years ago. no plant IN the
States agriculture has grown so
in the esteem of farmer and stock
men or increased so rapidly in
acreage. In fact, Kansas leads
all others in area devoted to this
wonderful legume; yet while it is
steadily advanc ing in popular
favor throughout all portions Of
the United States each passing
year widens the margin between
Kansas and her closer competitor
in alfalfa acreage. 1t is note
worthy, if not significant. that the
States present era of unDre-
cedented property dates from
about the time alfalfa was first
shown proper appreciation by her
farmers. Yielding pro6tably.
whether the season be wet or dry,
it is ready insurance against the
empty NOW and manger, and its
continually producing year after
year from one seeding is an ad-
vantage readily recognized in
comparison with the annual crops
which must be laboriouily pre-
pared for by blowing, narrowing
and seeding, each season, not to
mention the cost of the seed, that
in some seasons is lost, as we'll as
the labor.
In Kansas alfalfa has been a
potent factor in increasing bank
deposits and prosperity. As its
value has come to be more and
more recognized its area has been
constantly extended. as shown by
the annual statistics. In 1891
there were in the State but
34,3S4 acres, and in 1906 Jewell
county alone had $4,000 acres,
and the State $4,000 acres. 1t
has quadrupled the States output
of tame hay. In 1891 the tame
hay aggregated 401,640 tons,
while in 1906 the total was
l6,S2,699 tons. The value of the
1891 crop was two million dollars,
while that of 1906 was worth over
1917 million dollars. Its increase
in esteem is indicated anew by
the 1907 assessors reports received
thus far by the State Board OF
Agriculture from 46 of the 1O5
c0untie', which show gains. in
alfalfa of nearly 10000 acres
since one year ago. or an increa Sc
of 25 per, cent.
If the net gain in these 4f
counties is representative of the
increases in the other SO the total
acreage has been greatly extend
ed. and perhaps nothing better
agriculturally could happen to the
State than such additional areas
devoted to a crop that yields it:
three, four. five or more cutting:
annually for so many years. and
at the same time enriches the sol
for the benefit of other crops that
may, and properly should follow,
The obstacle in the way of its
wide use in rotations is that CON-
paratively few have the courage
to pillow. up good stands of alfalfa
and thus it is permitted to occupy
the same land definitely. All who
know alfalfa, best esteem it a,
one of the richest acquisitions t
American agriculture, and il
Kansas conditions, seem naturally
adapted to its most abundant and
economical production"