The Owosso times., 1910-12-30
The Place For Alfalfa
In Michigan.
| LFALFA has been discussed edi-
\ torially and attempts have been

| OF the early attempts at growing 1t
were unsuccessful, IT seeming to lack
In hardness to survive Michigan win
ters and in sufficient general adaptable
fty to make a permanent stand and
productive growth. Among the causes
of failure, doubtless, were lack of suf-
ficient inoculatoin Of the alfalfa bac.
terra, poor preparation of the seed
bed, an acid condition of the soil.
| which Is especially unfavorable to the
action of the alfalfa bacteria, and the
use of seed which was poorly adapted
| to Michigan conditions, most of it
having been imported or coming from
the southwest, where the climate is
much more mild. The failure of the
early attempts at growing alfalfa no
doubt accounts for It's slow introduc.
tion as permanent and important
crop Of the state and has led many
farmers to think, even to the, present
time, that alfalfa has no important
place In Michigan agriculture.
However, alfalfa growing has been
conducted far more successfully dur
ing the past five or six years than
previously. While ii does require GER
tain conditions of sweet soil, thorough
incubation, good seed bed, good seed,
etc, the lack of any one Of which will
cause it's failure, and while it Is usual
ly considered to be difficult crop TO
seed for the first time On the farm, it
state for a sufficient length of time
and on sufficient number of farms
and under such varying conditions as
to prove beyond a doubt that it has
become a most valuable crop and a
permanent acquisition to the crop pro.
duction OF the state. Today no other
crop is receiving the attention among
the farmers of the. state as is being
devoted to alfalfa, and many farmers
are seeding large areas, some of them
with little knowledge as to the spe-
cial requirements of alfalfa culture
The very slow introduction Of alfalfa
in the state and the Importance of
having ideal conditions should caution
any one against sowing d large area
in the first attempt. It. would be bet
ter to try It first in a small way and
learn how it will do and the speciai
treatment required for the conditions
of the individual farm and then seed
1t in larger way later.
What should be the place OF alfalfa
in Michigan agriculture? 1t is more
profitable crop than clover on the
farm?
In comparing alfalfa and clover we
find that clover is more cheaply seed
ed and seeded with less risk of fail
ure in getting a stand at least on
fields which have not been previously
seeded to alfalfa. While clover may
not have n wider adaptability, it's cul-
ture is better understood. Glover also
fits in better in the more common 70.
tations Of crop practiced in the state.
II seems desirable that leeume be
used as frequently as possible In a
short rotation to help build up the
fertility of the whole farm. Alfalfa
has been little used in this way, while
clover is especially suited to short
rotations.
On the other hand, alfalfa when 1t
Is once well established Is more pro-
ductive than clover, producing from
two to six tons per acre as compared
with one to three tons from clover,
the difference in yield being especial
ly noticeable on the lighter, less fer
tile soils. Alfalfa hay is more nutri-
tous, Of greater feeding value and
more palatable to stock than is clover
hay. 1t is less apt to be dusty and
better suited to the feeding of horses
1t also brings a better price on the
market, the difference frequently be-
ing as high as S. to So per ton.
Alfalfa is a perennial plant and
makes more or less permanent
meadow. If seeded under proper con-
ditions 1t should remain productive
for ten to fifteen years. Because OF
its perennial nature the expense Of
seeding number Of years is less
than with clover and the risk of seed
ing and the consequent risk of serious
interference with the plans of farm
management are practically done
away with.
The place for alfalfa on the Michi-
gan farm will, of course, depend on
several factors which will vary great
ly in different instances. 1t may be
said, however, that alfalfa is a very
promising crop for Michigan and
should be grown in a fairly large
way throughout the better agricultur-
al sections Of the state, on such soils
as are suited to it's production II
probably is more profitable consider
ing immediate returns and the i'm
prbvement of the fertility OF the soil
than any other farm crop grown. 1t
can be grown in certain fields for per.
iods of five to ten years, then changed
to new fields, or 1t may be grown in
even shorter rotations so as to be-
come a greater factor in the improve
ment of the fertility Of the entire
farm.
Many farms contain little land suit
ed to alfalfa growing, and upon these
clover should continue to be grown as
the main hay crop. There is a place
for alfalfa, however, on practically
every farm in the state, with the ex-
ception of those that are of little agri-
cultural value and those that contain
no well-drained land. Most OF the