Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1911-06-08
Alfalfa as a Crop at The
South.
(By Martin V. Calvin.)

is not by any IIlcdllS Stranger DIT
the South. 1t has been grown on
a smaller or larger scale for years
past.
A good reason. among others
why it has not been produced gen
orally in proportions of a crop is
that common vetch and johnson
grass on we'll drained bottom land
have proved to be profitable; the
cow-pea, Southern clover, lespedeza,
crimson clover, Bermuda grass,
the saccharine canes, amber orange
and Link Hybrid, rye, fodder, corn
etc., afforded whenever and wher-
ever planted, and properly handled
all necessary roughage, pasturage
etc.
In less than a decade alfalfa has
sprung into universal notice for
the reason that its claims have
been enthusiastically exploited.
Within five years just past the
agricultural press has been surren-
dering columns in each issue to
the advocates of alfalfa. 1t is now
laid before the public, baled crushed
and ground. Extremists insist
that it is quite as good as some of
the popular varieties of tea
young hyson, imperial, gun-powder,
for example.
Alfalfa is good plant, but the
South is in no sense or to. any ex-
tent dependent on it. do not
say this in a spirit of opposition
but to direct attention to the fact
that God has graciously given this
sun-kissed section of this great
country valuable grasses and for
age plants in great abundance.
we have such grasses and plants
adopted to all soils and conditions.
Alfalfa is a possibility. There
can be no objection to making the
most of it wherever it can be grown
as crop. 1t will not do well in
just any soil, let it be never so well
prepared or so fertile if it be under
laid with an impermeable sub-soil,
rock or hard-pan. 1t delights in a
sandy or loan soil with bottom
soil through which to the depth of
Is or 20 feet, its roots may make
their way. 1t will not flourish in
poorly drained soil. 1t cannot
make Roadway as against weeds
or survive well set attack of
dodder, the parasite.
1t is an excellent soiling plant;
and in a deep loose mellow soil,
will grow 100 inches a year. The
measurement, be it understood,
refers to growth after being cut a
number of times.
1t will grow in Florida and in
Georgia. similarly in any cotton
state under conditions of soil such
as | have mentioned. Wherever
red clover luxuriateS, alfalfa will
grow successfully.
There are thousands of acres in
the cotton states which could be
made suitable to alfalfa by drain
age-tile drainage, subject of
the highest importance to our
people. 1t is however subject to
which they give no attention.
There are thousands of practically
valueless acres in the cotton states
which could be made to blossom as
the rose by an intelligent use of
the drain tile There is no manner
in which the owner of a body of
average bottom land could spend
a considerable sum of money to
better purpose than in drain-tiling
that land. Such investment would
reimburse him a hundred fold
in three years. This suggestion
does not apply to bottom land only
Far from it. Upland can be mar
vellously improved by the use OF
drain tile. | have seen hillsldes
full of springs, drain-tiled and made
to yield IS bushels as against
previous yield of 10 bushels OF corn
per acre. Ihave purposely stress
ed this point because of its intimate
relationship to alfalfa production
A calcerous soil is inviting to