Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-07-06
ALFALFA

Relating to the alfalfa crops pro-
duced during the year 1910 in the
counties of Sully, Hughes and Stan
ley, | got out a circular letter some
ninety days ago with fifty questions
in relation to the care and culture of
alfalfa. Also asked each man the
number of acres he had in crop, the
number Of bushels of seed he raised
last year, the number sold and the
amount kept and the number of acres
he expected to seed during the year
1911.
1t has been reported to me as fol-
lows: 425 acres in Suiiy county Of
which was shreshed 1913 acres seed
averaging 5 bushels to the acre, for
the total amount of 766 bushels.
81 900 worth Of this seed has been
sold to seed dealers for So, 40 per
bushel. S2,426 worth of this seed is
reported to be kept at home for the
seeding of the new fields during the
year 1911. The hay which is being
fed appears to be $50 tons, cut from
PIP acres. These fields were not cut
for seed and a portion of it was cut
three times, average yield being 2ls
tons per acre. 1853 acres first cutting
yielded 206 tons and was sold at SIP
per ton. aotal valuation of the hay
and seed crop combined is reported
at SIT, 24o. Stanley county being
about four times the size of the other
two reports 1,124 acres from which
was threshed 1852 acres averaging 6
bushels of seed to the acre or 1862
bushels. Some o. this seed was sold
at SIS per bushel, some OF ii az SO, or
$44 1858 worth had been raised; 800
600 worth reported sold to seed, S14,-
S5s unmarketed portion OF which
will be used at home for seeding new
fields. This is a wonderful showing
for the new corners and we trust they
will increase the good work. S64,-
Ola is a big showing for the number
OF years the crop averages have been
seeded, this being about four years.
In some instances the older settlers
report from seven to twelve years of
experience and in almost every case
the Turkestan appears to have endnr-
ed the hardship of both drouth and
cold with perfect satisfaction.
Hughes county comes nearer to
threshing all of it's crop than either
of the other two, 597 acres reported
i'll fields ranging from TO i0G acres
Seed sold, $4,000: several thousand
dollars worth yet on hand for the
purpose of seeding new fields. The
total of the hay and seed crop figure
up to $4,000. The total amount of
hay and seed crops combined for the
| three counties figure up to the amount
OF S127, 254 or better than $50 per acre
for every acre which was in the crop.
In each and every report where the
crop has been threshed the farmers
| report almost identically the same
thing for the food value from the
straw OF tailings from the machine.
| In one case the man reports if as be-
ing equal to oats for his borses. The
finer part of the straw he gathers in
feed basket and tells us that it will
| weighed 20 pounds to the bushel and is
not only good for the horses but is
excellent for calves, and makes the
old Brindle COW fill the pail to the
brim
| Trust that these few remarks will
be Of some value to the readers, and
| might say in conclusion that the
amount of seed that was sowed
during the year 1911 will bring the
acreage near 5000 mark. The win
ter killing was reported as follows:
| 1910, none. The kind of seed, Turke-
! stan, Montana, Grim and in three or
| four cases the men did not know what
variety of seed they had sown. There
are without doubt several thousand
good alfalfa farms in this section of
| the country which are still untitled,
and comparatively cheap and this is
the place for the renter from the
l.older states to get home that he
can call his own as the best aiiaifa
land can be purchased for the small
| price of from $50 to $50 per acre. No
place ON earth is there a better OPP
portunity for the, investor.
The above is an extract of report
secured by MT. S. J. Wood of Pierre.