The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-02-10
ALFALFA IS The
king CROP
Supplies Nitrogen the Most Essential
Element In the upkeep OF the Soil.

alfalfa is the basic crop In western
and northwestern agriculture" de-
clares Prof. F. w. Hunt, who is lectur
ing every day at the Land Show ID
connection with the Northwestern
railroads exhibit of alfalfa. Upon 1t
more than upon any other crop de-
ponds the continued prosperity of oui
inland empire What strikes me as
almost startling is the fact that so few
OF the farmers of this territory appre-
clate the Significance of the crop. Ii
one considers merely immodlate pro
duction and immediate returns from
production there is more money to be
made from growing alfalfa than from
any other crop that the farmer pro
duces. 1t seems to me that the reason
why = is not more largely used Is
taat the average farmer is afraid to
SOW it for fear that he may not sue
coed in getting a stand. In the past
there has been some slight ground for
this fear. but as our knowledge Of al
falfa growing has increased, legitimate
ground for this fear has disappeared.
I'VE now know that kiven proper
seed and proper tillage 1t is as easy to
get a stand of alfalfa as it is to get
stand of oats or any other grain. My
own personal experience has taught
me that the old Darwinian law OF the
survival of the fittest' applies as well
to plants as to animals. My practice
has been, and 1t is practice that
recommend to all alfalfa growers, to
procure my seed from locality where
natural conditions are more severe
and unfavorable than they are where
propose to grow the crop.
If plant has virility and power
enough to produce a good crop under
unfavorable conditions. it will certainly
grow Iuxuriantly under the more ia
vorable conditions to which | submit
the seed. For the same reason I Sc
lect my seed corn for my poorest
ground, because a corn that can de-
velop good ear on poor soil has the
power of marvellous production when
planted in good soil. In general Ne
braska has three distinct alfalfa zones
and the time for seeding should be
governed by the meteorological and soil
conditions of the place where it is pro-
posed to plant the seed.
Help to the Soil.
Upon alfalfa the entire west has got
to depend for maintaining the fertility
of the soil. If should go to any far
mer in this territory with a guarantee
to back up any contract that l might
make, and should offer the farmers
through the west $25 per acre for the
privilege of fertilizing their soil, and
should agree to furnish the fertilizer
myself, they would regard it as snap,
and would fall over one another in
their haste to accept my proposition.
Nature makes that Identical proposition
to every farmer in this territory. She
says, SOW alfalfa, and I will guarantee
you an income of $25 an acre, and at
the same time guarantee to restore your
soil to its virginl fertility
Let me explain how this is done, |
Nitrogen is the most necessary, the
most expensive and the most elusive of |
all the elements of fertility Nitrogen |
Is the element that produces vigorous
vegetable growth It is what gives the
big corn stalk, the long straw and the
dark green color in growing crops
Whenever one notices that year after
year his corn stalks are growing small
Ter, or his straw getting shorter, or
the color fading to a pale, yellowish
green, he may know that his soil is
lacking in nitrogen.
ut seems like an almost unnecessary
anomaly in nature that while four
fifths of the bulk of our atmosphere is
pure nitrogen, we are unable to apply
it directly to our soil We are i'm
mersed in it and cannot use it. The
alfalfa plant by virtue of the bacterial
like that infests its roots can take this
nitrogen from the air and store it in
The soil for the use of plants. 1t is
the Regeneration of wornout soil. No
farmer is living up to his privileges
who neglects to grow it. Upon the
fertility of our soil rests the prosperity
of the future, and alfalfa will take care
OF rat fertility.
Examples of Fertility.