The Greeley tribune., 1910-10-06
Colorado. "Moaern Alchemist"

IL II wei known that aIfalfa finds
a natural home In Colorado. The
importance OF this forage plant to
the prosperity OF the state is also
well known. A further impetus is
to be given to the growth of alfalfa
for seed and forage by the Colorado
Agricultural college. 1t is believed
that the yield In pure seed and In
tonnage per acre cannot only be ma
terially increased. but that the
purity. hardness and reliability of
the seed can be greatly improved.
For a number OF years the Colo
RADIO experiment station has con-
Quoted variety tests of alfalfa at its
substation at Rocky Ford under the
direction of Prof. p X. Blinn, a
graduate of the Colorado agricul-
tural college. who is recognized as
one OF the best western authorities
on the subject.
The early introduction of alfalfa
into Colorado from California
marked the beginning of a most i'm
portant agricultural era. Fed to
lambs. alfalfa nets rich return in
addition to the fertilIzing value of
the manure which is returned to the
soil. The value of this staple food
plant to the semi-arid regions of the
west cannot easily be imagined 1t
is the very basis of Colorado agricul-
ture.
Alfalfa supplies the life-giving ele-
ments most needed for plant growth
In Colorado soil, the rich chemical
and physical properties of which
Colorado inherited from the ages.
Alfalfa is the one crop we must
cultivate in Colorado for successful
crop rotation.
1t Is the determination of the
Colorado experiment station to
ascertain the varieties best adapted
to the different sections of the state.
1t Is believed that the feeding value
OF the plant. as we'll as the tonnage
per acre and it's palatability, as hay,
can be greatly improved
For number of years the Colo
RADIO experiment station has recog-
nized the importance of this great
forage crop and has conducted va
riety tests and experiments in alfalfa
seed breeding. The station has re-
Gently taken means to intensity its
work and to broaden its scope in an
EFFORT to assist the farmers of Colo
RADIO in securing greater tonnage
and higher food content.
Professor Blinn will give his en-
tire time to this investigation. He is
now on a visit to the Nebraska eX-
pertinent station at Lincoln, the
Minnesota station at st. Anthony
Park, and number OF private seed
breeding farms in Minnesota. North
and South Dakota. Montana. and
Wyoming. during which he will
make thorough study of the work
done In alfalfa growing at these var
ious stations and farms. securing
data on the varieties that are hardy
enough to withstand the climate of
the northern states and to find out,
II possible. a reliable source of seed
for these hardy strains, especially
the Grim alfalfa. which has proved
to be one of the best varieties for
Colorado.
1t is hoped that cooperation be-
tween tHe growers OF tne nOrtn ana
their state experiment stations can
be brought about with our own ex-
pertinent station SO that Colorado
farmers may buy seed from depend
able sources and be assured of the
purity and variety.
The Colorado experiment station
Is planning to conduct cooperative
experiments with interested farmers
In different sections of the state un-
der the direction of MIR. Blinn In
this way varieties can be tested and
seed grown for Colorado, and event
ually the best type established for
the different sections of the state.
l.. M. TAYLOR.
Colorado Agricultural College. Fort
Collins.