The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-31
satisfy it's whin,s.

satisfy its whims.
Captain Jack says:
You might say that alfalfa has a
mind OF its own. 1t knows very well
what II wants. Its demands are many
and often times peculiar and sometimes
hard to account for, and, unless they
are complied with promptly and fully,
1t VIII bring great disappointment to
Its owner. For him who Understands
IT'S language and unsparingly supplies
It's needs, II VIII clothe his fields In
beauty. and supply his herds with
choicest food, enrich his soil as by
magic multiply the values OF his land
and lay it's richest treasures at his
feet in grateful acknowledgements OF
his toll and care
II believe that before many years
Old Virginia will have many lnobme-
producing alfalfa farms. 1t Is a result
well worth striving tor 1t Is the crop
which more than all others will re-
deem the lands of tho Southern ard
Eastern States--lands which in SO
many ways have been SO wonderfully
favored
land Values Increased.
The alfalfa king is undoubtedly
right, for he has demonstrated that an
acre Of land that has been we'll pre-.
pared and set In alfalfa will produce
enough returns TO make that acre
worth 5000, and an expenditure OF SIS
for SEED, FERTILIZER, lime, and growing
a crop OF crimson clover will put an
acre in alfalfa properly. There are
thousands OF farmers who can grow
good cfops of alfalfa in Virginia IL
they Will do II as Captain Jack has
managed his alfalfa crop, and there
are man. farmers who can grow much
larger crop. because their soil "a much
more fertile than the land that Cap
tain Jack bought
1t is no secret that he paid less
than $25 per acre for his King George
county lands. and that which he has
seeded In alfalfa could not be bought
to-day for 5000 per acre II 1t were
sold under the hammer. doubt IL
he wauld take twice that amount for
any acre he owns In the State.
Since baye said so much about the
methods employed on this farm in the
preparation OF the land. the cultiva-
ton. etc. 1T is likely that every farmer
reader viii want to know something
of the Captains methods of curing.
In bulletin forty-nine recently issued
from the State Agricultural Depart
ment, Captain Jack. at the request
Of Commissioner Koiner. told all about
curing the grass. and. at the risk of
this article too long, / pro-
pose to reproduce his remarks on the
subject. Here they are:
Various WAYS of Curing
There are several methods that can
be resorted to for curing alfalfa hay,
any one OF which will prove satisfac-
tory under certain climatic conditions
and fail entirely under others.
Conditions however, would be ex-
ceptionally rare II all these methods
would fail. In this as in all things
of like nature, much must be left
70 the Judgment of the manager.
Be assured. however. tina, alfalfa Is
possibly less difficult TO cure than
'.her ciovers, though one cannot
always use the same methods for cur.
ng both, as the leaves OF alfalfa.
when dry. are inclined TO shatter; hence
t should not be allowed to become
perfectly cured In the field. Alfalfa
VIII stand being placed in the NOV
With more moisture in 1t than any |
'ther hay. and 1t will also stand moro I
evere weather while in the field. both |
before and after cutting, than any
,ther hay, but 1t Will rot stand being
1t is quite difficult to explain TO
mother SO he Will understand the, con-
lition alfalfa should be in when ready !
o be placed in the NOW 1t is ppssi- /
'ly one OF the most difficult things |
o learn, and you gain the knowledge |
MY by actual contact with the wprk.
hough you may obtain the idea from |
What you read or hear on the subject. |
/ On this point I quote from Bulletin |
lumber 81 virginia Agricultural Elk
er!ment Station) as follows: When |
sater cannot BE twisted from the !
TENS. It is in ideal condition to maize |
God hay"
Mr.. Joseph E. Wing, who is possibly
ne of the best informed men on the
ubject Of alfalfa in the United States.
avs: "a safe method of ascertairjr{e
neither 1T is sufficiently cured to 10
1to the stack or barn is to twist
ne stalks. and If no water appeans
ne hay is in safe condition.
Further information.
Generally speaking, both of theseN
tatements cover the ground, but j Il
elieve one might profitably add note
ae odor of the hay and see If it has
grassy smell, and If SO try ana
It 1T cure a little more Observe ;
lso the atmospheric conditions and 3
etermlne whether the alfalfa Is still lie
lriag or whether 1t is beginning TO
ather moisture again. If the latter, q
nd the weather promises better con- q
ltions later on, do not hurry the hay !
Ito the NOW. a
1t often occurs that alfalfa may be /
most cured. and weather conditions {
1ange, and more moisture comes into /, I
lie air. or evening overtakes you and | /
sw begins to falk Alfalfa is very sem!
tive to all weather conditions and 4
hen partly or entirely cured is capa- q
e of absorbing moisture very quickly. {
Under such conditions judgment | q
ust be used in deciding the best {
purse to pursue. Is 1t safe to leave I
until Tomorrow? d Ia
Would it be better to throw 1t into {
,cks? +
Should it be hurried into tho nonua