The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-06-09

hardness through selective acclima-
tization.
The foundation stock Of Grimm al
falfa was brought to America in 1857.
The uphill struggle which this strain
has carried on can be more readily
understood when we realize that COM
mon alfalfa, which was brought in
from South America only three or four
years before the Grimm, has extended
itself over perhaps 100000 acres,
while the Grimm has covered less than
5000 acres.
Grimm alfalfa came from the vicinity
Of the little village of Kulsheim. near
Wertheim, in the Grand Duchy of
Baden, Germany. The winter months
December, January, and February in
this region are not quite as cold on an
| average as November in Minnesota,
where Grimm alfalfa has now been
grown over fifty years. A thirty-five-
year record exists for Wertheim. Only
once in this time has a temperature of
less than 20 degrees F. been experience
ed. Only thirteen of the thirty five
winters have had temperatures below
zero, while twenty-five have had min
ina ranging from 2 degrees f. to 16
degrees f. During the same years
| 1S73-1907) st. Paul has never exper-
fenced a winter with a minimum as
high as 10 degrees =
That Grimm alfalfa should suffer
from winterkilling in it's transfer from
such mild to such severe conditions
was inevitable. That It is still under
going selective naturalization is
shown by the numerous experiments
reported on in the present bulletin.
The region surrounding Grimm's old
home and the adjacent parts of wurt-
temberg and Bavaria have been for
several centuries the chief seat Of pro-
duction Of "alt-deutsche frankische
Luzerne," a variety highly priced in
southern Germany because OF it's SUI
perior hardness as compared with the
French and other European alfalfas.
The writer has been fortunate in OBJ
tanning number of samples of this
old Franconian strain, one coming from
within six miles Of Wendelin Grimm's
old home.
| 1t is not possible to assert positively
that "alt-deutsche frankische Luz
erne' is the progenitor of Grimm alfal-
ia, but it seems altogether likely that
this is the case.
Nevertheless, it would be unwise to
import seed directly from the original
source, expecting that it would behave
the same as the Minnesota grown seed.
In the nursery-row experiment al
Dickinson, N. d. row of Grimm all
falfa killed out less than 3 per cent
while an adjoining row Of old Fran
eonian alfalfa under conditions that
might be termed absolutely identical
killed out rs per cent.
The great hardness, and conse-
quently the great potential value Of
Grimm alfalfa, has been amply sub
stantiated by the investigations of the
bureau of plant industry and bv the
independent experiments OF the Min
nesota, South Dakota. North Dakota,
and Montana experiment stations.
Further corroboration exists in the
experience Of a considerable number
of northern farmers, who have time
and again planted seed of ordinary
strains Of domestic and foreign origin
only TO have their stands gradually de-
teriorate to a point where they were
no longer. profitable and had to be
plowed up, and who have subseouoent-
ly sown Grimm and obtained enduring
stands.
1t now becomes a matter of the
greatest importance to propagate a SUI
ficient supply Of seed in order that
Grimm alfalfa may be generally
grown in the area where it is most
valuable. Resistant as the strain is.
it still suffers slightly in winters OF
unusual severity.
i Only by determined effort can a sue
cessful alfalfa industry be established
in our northern country. Farmers who
have fields of plats of this strain should
grow seed whenever possible, even If
doiLg SO sometimes causes a loss "a
them as compared with hay produc-
ton.
Grimm alfalfa grown for seed should
not be grown in close proximity to
other tender sorts, as crossing goes
on very freely and there is strong evil
dence for believing that the harder
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