The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-09-24
Alfalfa-Growing In Kansas

W ANS.NS is unique In many things. but In
X none moro than ttc commanding position
she occupies In alfalfa growing. Her de-
Volopment In this ipdus;ry Is one OF the mar
Nels' of her prolific agriculture. and with al
foftl as with winter wheyt no other state ap-
proachos her in Its acreage and production
/ tnoSe who havo known ii longest and best
arc the ones who esteem II most highly-in
tao' Very few who hnvc once raised or used
II as fecd.arc satisfied 20 be without II. and
as II rule they contemplate an enlarged acre
age and It's increased use The marvellous
fact connected with this plant old in agri-
culture Is that 1t comes as II does, to SO
many al tho beginning OF the twentieth con-
tury as an agricultural revelation
Tho crcdulity OF thoyc who are strange to
5alfalIa, however fair minded, is invariably
taxed by a recitation OF tho truth about this
wonderful plant. Even tho facts cut in two
leave him in perturhed state OF mind as to
the Veracity OF the sanity OF the narrator but
tbc experiences OF those who arc actually its
growers arc convincing. An alfalfa field is 4
perennial md abiding blessing TO those who
fare 80 fortunate as to have It. yielding an
nu2lly whether the season be wet OF dry. its
several cuttings of hay unsurpassed in ton
noco and quality. II IS decd esteemed as a
eenofaetion and doubly appreciated where 1t
nourIshos and other Clovers do not
Another feature too that the widc-awake
farmer does not overlook or minimize is the
improving effects OF It's roots restoring and
cnrching rather than depicting the fertility
Of his land, To the great benefit OF other sue
ceedlng crops
As Is well known alfalfa is ono of the old
cst forage plants, yet to the husbandry OF
tho american farmer II is OF but recent ac-
quircmcnt. Kansans were among the fore
mest TO correctly estimate It's worth. and .ts
Widespread Introduction into the Sunnowcr
state has been ono OF the most important
factors I'm increasing bank deposits and the
per capita wealth. 1t Is noteworthy and
significant that our unprecedented prosperity
dates from tho time alfalfa was first shown
proper appreciation by our farmers All who
know alfalfa best esteem II as ono of tho
richest acquisitions to American Agriculture
and IN Kansas conditions seem naturally
adapted TO its most abundant and economical
production
In Kansas alfalfa growing was prelude
to prosperity. and IS the steadfast promoter
OF her progress. From ooscuritv il has
steadily risen to the foremost rank among
hay plants and has already resulted In quad
rupng tho states output OF tame hay I'm
1890 the value OF the tame hay crop was
$2.Oo0.Oo0, while that of 1909 was considerably
over Sli0OooO0 The annual value OF prod
ucts OF live stock In that time has been
doubled and alfalfa has made OF Kansas n
not first. one OF the foremost states in dairy
ing. a most desirable branch oil husban5Ty
that intelliscntly and generally followed we'll
nigh lnsurcs continued and enlarged prospcr-
ity Alfalfa. it seems supplies the one re-
quiSltc Providence failed To provide in egt1b-
fishing tho otherwise rcady-made conditions
for dairying In Kansas. and The attention he
ing given this branch. OF intensive farming
In nearly every locality is having It's benen-
cial influence commercially and socially. The
widespread Introduction of alfalfa In the sun
flower state has been one of the most mpor-
tant factors In the increase Of ban1s donovi,a
and the added wealth they represent Ii has
increased the states manufactures through
grinding the hay into meal and the prepara-
tion of various valuable stock foods. which
add an important industry pfomising large
development. The increase in it's acreage
here affords some. although no adequate idea
OF tho growing appreciation in which the
plant Is held. 1t Is just twenty years since
the crop was nTSt thought Of enough lmpor-
tance to chronicle its statistics. and at that