The Dickinson press., 1911-01-21
IMPORTANT ALFALFA II paper
MEANS MILLIONS Of WEALTH
Supt L. Wadron Tells About Alfalfa and IT,; Great
Value to the Farm. Worth Great Deal More Than Prairie
Hay Ton tor Ton and Yields Much More Per Acre Has
Remarkable Merits as Milk Producer

pounds of gain cost $3.50. The profit
ON the alfalfa fed calves in the sprina
was more than twice as much as was
the profit on the calves fed on prairie
hay. ,,~
FOR MILK PRODUCTION
Alfalfa is superior as milk producer.
In Illinois it was found that alfalfa had
remarkable merits in milk production,
as compared with timothy. Each ton Of
alfalfa hay fed to the cows produced a
milk flow Of 1874 pounds over and above
the milk flow Of the cows fed on timothy.
AT the selling price Of the milk, 81. 30
per hundred pounds. the increase Of milk
due to the alfalfa hay equalled $40. 4s
more per ton than from the timothy.
Thus. with timothy hay at $40. 90 per
ton. alfalfa would be worth more than
$40. 90 per ton.
VALUE PER ACRE
If, in North Dakota, we should assume
the value of our tame grasses to be
worth $10 90 per acre from dairy
standpoint, then the alfalfa would
easily be worth $4,000 per acre. In
Illinois it was considered that with
timothy worth Sis. 90 per acre, alfalfa
would be valued at over $83. 90 per acre.
We begin to see why it is that alfalfa
excites the interest which it does in this
country. A few have found out the
value of the plant and have spread the
good news from neighbor to neighbor
until at the present time there is hardly
farmer but has more or less interest
, in the crop.
ALFALFA IN RELATION TO GRAIN
PRODUCTION
The increased growing of alfalfa in
North Dakota will do marvellous things
in increasing the fertility for the soil,
putting the land in good physical con-
dition and getting rid of certain
diseases and weeds which are now
lingering in the soil from year to year.
These results will have remarkable in
fluence upon the grain yields. which,
instead of decreasing from year to year
as they are at present, will gradually
increase.
By means of the bacteria associated
with the alfalfa. the plant is able to
utilize raw nitrogen Of the air as a
plant food. Alfalfa uses the increased
stores of available NITROGEN in the soil,
and by it's system of deep roofing brings
near the surface certain quantities of
potash and phosphoric acid. AS the
deep roofing alfalfa plants bore into the
soil they open up channels for The access
of moisture. Thus the soils become
moister down to greater depth than
was previously possible.
ALFALFA ADAPTED TO THE STATE
Alfalfa is naturally adapted to North
Dakota, and to show what il will do for
it is only necessary to point out the
effects it has had upon Kansas. The
agricultural conditions of Kansas have
been almost transformed in the last 20
years, almost solely because of the intro.
duction of the alfalfa crop. Certain
lands in Kansas few years ago sold
for from 81 to S. per acre which are nov
selling at from $50 to SIS per acre. due
to the cultivation of alfalfa. Similar
results were found in other portions Of
the country.
NEEDS OF ALFALFA
Alfalfa demands sweet. we'll drained
soil. North Dakota soils are generally
of this nature. A hardy alfalfa must be
grown. but the North Dakota farmers
have this in the Grimm variety. This
variety seems to be hardy enough for all
practical purposes. At Dickinson il
killed out less than per cent against an
average of over 70 per cent for 6a
strains.
lNUCULAIlON
A difficulty in alfalfa growing in
North Dakota comes with the knowledge
that practically all of the North Dakota
soil must be inoculated with alfalfa
germs before the alfalfa will be success
full. Up to the; present time but very
few; farmers have taken the pains to
/ inoculate their soil or treat their seed,
and as a consequence their alfalfa has
generally been failure.
incubation by means of soil is the
simplest method. incubation Is
necessary for successful alfalfa culture
in North Dakota. Exceptions to: this
merely prove the rule.
DROUTH RESISTANCE
The question OF drouth resistance