The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-05-19
The Queen Of Crops.
(From Farmers Review. }

Is queen or Forage crops, yleidlng more
abundantly than any other, and of {
quality unequaled by any other. Whetb
or it is in the sunny regions of the
tropics or the northern borders o.
civilization, it thrives and produces
food for animals that is of such ex
cellent quality that any and all classes
consume it with hearty relish, and
are vivified and developed in a manner
surprising that produced by any Other
feed.
| Alfalfa is one of the oldest forage
plants known. 1t fourished in the
eastern countries of Asia in times an
tedating the civilization and records Of
men. In the earliest days of the civil
lization of the Aryan races of men
when the first empires of the east were
founded, it furnished the palatabls
feed on which the animals fourished
and the horses of the ancient warriors
were fed.
Alfalfa spread as fast as the Aryan OF
agricultural races found their way
westward 1t spread to all the coun
tries bordering on the Mediterranean
sea, both north and south, and enriched
the peoples AMI lands of Italy, Egypt,
Germany, Austria, Hungary, France
and Spain, and when the Spaniards
came to this continent they brought
the seed with them, and it fourished
on the western borders of South Ameri-
ca, Mexico and the United States. 1t
has found its way into the Argentine
republic, where now it is being ap-
preciated more than ever before, and
the large numbers of cattle of that
great country are fattened on it, and
come in competition with those reared
and fattened in our corn belt regions of
the United States, in the markets of
European countries.
For some time alfalfa was looked up.
on as plant that would thrive only
under favorable conditions Although
it was grown on the Pacific coast a
long period of years, it was not con-
sidered possible to make success with
it in the middle west, or in the north
ern border states. By persistent effort
and studying its necessities, it is grown
successfully in all parts of the country,
and at the present time there is more
attention given to the study of alfalfa
than any other one crop. Alfalfa clubs
have been organized tor the purpose of
learning what can be learned by the
exchange Of points of information and
securing assistance from alfalfa ex-
perts" at experiment stations.
At farmers institute in northern
Michigan I met travelling man who
said he had travelled all over the coun-
try, from Maine to Texas, and Oregon,
and that when he saw group of men
intensely discussing something, he
knew they were talking sbout-alfalfa.
AS there is a good deal of interest
conferred in farming operations general.
ly. for farming has been q good and
profitable business for six or eight
years, the best and most profitable crop,
alfalfa, is the one that takes the lead in
interest. s
Under present conditions will ven.
ture q, few suggestions, which If heed
ed, will prevent the waste Of time, ef-
fort and expense. Keep in mind the
fact that it is safer to use seed that
was grown in climate very similar if
not identical. with that in which one
lives. It is risking too much to under
take to acclimatize plants from seed
grown in q warm climate to one many
degrees colder. Much money has been
wasted by sowing seed grown in the
southwest in the northern states.
The alfalfa plants require nourish-
ment in considerable quantities while
young, to give them start. There
fore make the ground fertile by first,
the application Of manures, blowing
early while the ground is moist from
spring rains cultivate frequently to
put the ground in fine tilth and make
the plant food readily available. Fit
Is not known that there is an abund.
ance of lime in the soil, apply lime
carbonate, or ground limestone is
best), and work it into the soil. Al
falfa will live if there is plenty of nj.
trogen In the soil, but it is safer to get
some dirt from an alfalfa field and SOW
1t on cloudy day or near shutdown,
where you desire to raise alfalfa in
order to get the nitrogen gathering
bacteria that live in the nodules on the |
alfalfa roots, as the plants may need
the nitrogen. Test the seed to be sure
IL will grow. If sown with a nurse
crop, SOW in April. If sown without
nurse crop, sow in the summer time
when the ground is in fine condition,
and climate conditions are favorable to
give it . start. The ground should be
sufficiently moist to insure quick germi-
nation. Avoid fields where the water
Is likely to stand more than twelve