Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-05
HUNTS THE WORLD
FOR HARDY SEEDS
PROFESSOR RETURNS WITH AL.
FALFA AND CLOVER FOR
COLD LATITUDEs.
LOTS OF NEW SEEDS FROM
WHICH MUCH is
EXPECTED.

Washington. d. C., April 2s.-Pro-
lessor N. e. Hansen, agricultural ex-
plorer and horticulturist, who for
eight months has been travelling
through Russia, Siberia, central
Asia, TIrkestan and northern AZ
RIGA In quest of new varieties of al
falfa and clover for cultivation in
this country, has returned with more
than three hundred lots Of seeds and
plants to be used by the department
of agriculture in experimental work.
On previous trips Professor Hansen
found alfalfa and clover plants which
1t was proved would thrive in sections
of the west where it had been impos-
sible to raise plants of the same var
iety advaentageously. He also in
troduced in the northwest a Siberian
alfalfa believed to be the hardest
of proteid plants and which will en-
dure the severest cold.
Professor Hansen has located two
more varieties of this northern plant,
which grows in a section of Siberia
where the mercury freezes and where
there is no snow. The department OF
agriculture will conduct experiments
with the new plant in several north
western states.
Professor Hansen is now very busy
with his report and with his prepare
tions to leave Washington as soon
as possible for his home, in Brook
| field, S. d. He is great northwest
man" primarily, and his enthusiasm
for the section in which he resides is
responsible for Secretary Wilson's
choice in sending him on the recent,
the fourth of his worldwide explora-
lions in search of the best that the
eastern or western hemisphere pro-
duces. so that the United States may
benefit by it.
Professor Hansen said 6ae great
reason for the departments anxiety
about the northwestern grazing
fields is that the history of the con-
tinent shows alternate cycles of wet
anC dry weather. Just at present. with
the farmers owning motor cars and
with everything In first class full
/ dinner pail order on the farms, the
climatic conditions are splendid, but
If history repeats itself and a long,
dry cycle rolls around the vest will
suffer Tor the years in which the
bountiful rains keep away. For that
reason the world has been actually
secured by Professor Hansen in his
effort to get the clover and alfalfa
! which will best grow in the ATTITUDES
of the northwest and under condi-
4 tons which may be expected.
/ Glover and alfalfa are the founda-
ton for the great meat industry
abroad, and it is believed will become
the beef and mutton raisers' greatest
source of strength when the results
of the Hansen expeditions are
thoroughly disseminated Throughout
the cattle states.
! Professor Hansen carries a pass
port from the state department show
ing all nations that he is an agricuIt-
ural explorer The back of the docu-
ment is stamped and vised and
signed with the official seals and sig
natures of dozens of countries. Scarce
ly half an inch of clear space re-
mains Through all of the principan-
ties and countries of that mysterious
region in and around the desert of
Cobb the explorer and his men travel
led. sleeping on the ground at times,
1trsis,gr Mi
doing farm work and searching Tor
the alfalfa which grows furthest
north
In one region where the subsoil is
always frozen and where lakes and
rivers freeze to the bottom. the party
found some of the varieties which
seeds have been brought back. In one
of the localities visited it is said the
thermometer has registered in winter
eighty-three degrees below zero. Pro-
fessor Hansen would not verify that,
however
The party risked cholera and other
dangerous diseases. 1t met with ad-
ventures of all sorts. and in addition
to the dangers ii vent through
brought back story after story that
will keep friends laughing for many
months
Professor Hansen stopped at moth
ing to get a complete knowledge OF
the subject in which he was interest
ed. AT one time. when he found he
was TOO late to collect a quantity OF
certain seeds he bought huge pile of
alfalfa and set Cinnamon TO work
sorting out the blades of grass and Sc
curing from the pile the seeds 10
wanted.
AGRICULTURE AND ATHLETICS.
Hartford Times Two items which