Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-04

EAlfa In the United states reads almost
IKE a romance. For years vast areas in
the west were regarded as Of little agri-
suituraI value until alfalfa was intro
auced and its adaptability to that sec
ton demonstrated Apparently. climat-
C conditions there are ideal for its pro-
auction: at least its cultivation has been
much more successful there than else
where. and particularly gratifying re-
suits have been secured with It where
the irrigation of the land is essential II
i not surprising that there should be
great interest in this plant. for when once
wen established. Il may be cut from three
to four times year. yielding at each
cutting from A half 10 q ton and nalI
1f hay OF the choicest quality. where
this hay can be cured under irrigation
farming. its fine colo- and aroma can
be preserved. and there Is comparative
~ little danger OF losing the leaves when
u course, are the richest part OF tne
plant
Affairs Is probably the most remark
able ulant adapted for hay production
now grown In the United States. lhis
viii be readily appreciated when II Is
stated that it contains IL per cent OF d.
rnetibIe protein. 81 per cent or uigesu-
bic carbohydrates and g per cent OF
alxestfble fat per 100 pounds Compare
this with timothy hay which only con-
lnins IS per cent OF digesuoie prote.n.
81 per cent OF carbohydrates ana II
GER cent OF fat and IL - not surpfislns
that alfalfa should be regarded with such
unsvarxaI favor by the farmer As mat
Ter Of fact. good alfalfa hay contains
about a. much dIgestTble nutriments as
wheat bran since all analyses OF this
nroduct show that Il contains out lis
n.r cent OF dIzestfble protein. A per
eent Of earbohydrats and IS per cent OF
rat The farmer who can grow altaiIa
successfully. therefore. has suosute s.
which may be used under certain conoi-
lions In place OF wheat bran. corn ano
other high-priced concentrates wh,sn -
exnensive 70 raise and TOO costly Tor the
s~~,,e- Who expects to succeed to pur-
chase
thousands Of attempts have been mace
a rntlivate Alfalfa In the east and SOUTH
ana isolated farmers here and there nave
.sr~reased well with the CROP but the
wraat majority have failed and expert
enre would seem 70 indicate that the crop
RS not the wide adaptabaity Tor gener-
Il cultivation IN the sotuh ana soeSn-
vest that It enjoys in the west ,,
successfuI cultivation OF alfaiLA VII 80
for the adoption of q system OF SOIL prep
er.ffon ana enrichment which has seldom
hs.n practfced by our farmers In tne
efzf uiace. the lands Of the west are az
-.-.rflv very deep 50 that the roots OF
-. ION nav readily strike down INTO
- ali several feet in search OF water,
- ste uater table seems TO be al JUST
.T,,,,t the right depth In the soil % meet
re requirements OF the crop Mo.eoee.,
fha land contains an abundance OF nuln-7
ana Is well supplied with al ne Ss 49,,
kfaf elements Of plant 1000 '-s 49,
~~.-,,t,,affona indicate that many OF tn1
me ~ the southeast section OF the hni.-
- sfafes are not only low in yegetaoie
~sntter hut in the mineral elements
-eff This being true it Is foliy - a.
-. "a grou alfalfa without preparlns
- 1.rd thorouehly for the crop TO 90
-. -.Ils for considerable forethougnt on
49, narf OF IN farmer. and at least one
-.ar should be given to getung ths e. a.,
n readiness for seeding In 1aee = W
often take two years OF prsps' 20
work ,.a .hou1d be
...,,,- broken either BY traction en-
~s-s ar with three or four Dig muls s
= <hould then be SUBSIDIZED as ueSp,s
>~ssfia which had best be done IN
en- az the year. These remarks
- course. amply TO the red clay soAs
- the piedmont region. as the oesp
allowing and subsoiling would no1 70
necessary I'm very sandy sohs sat~S,,
--t.rsfva gubsofl alfalfa viii not nkeiy
- ~9e4f on them After the land mas
s~an thoroughly broken. seed 70 marry
<-~--h h,,rr clover or crimson clover.
rs-s eron should be plowed down IN the
..~1v sprinK and the ground seeded 20
~orSoeas or velvet beans wnicn snoulu
- turned under about September is sI
A. least one ton OF high-srade eaosuc
i1-,s should have been supplied IN the
t-11 hefore planting the crops men
1soned- on very acid lands or on tnose
---,.rkahlv deficient in lime which Is
80 ~ much OF the lans N the PIED
-.or,4 nactfon. two tons OF causttc lime
80 often be applied with profit In
sadstfon to the lime apply at least ooV
nonnds Of a 1915 fertilizer 20 tne
fau sown crop and not less tnAn eoO
@-..rar OF a 1916 to the cowpeas Or
s-~ivas beans. At least thirty days should
rlanee between the application OF the
sr-,,s ana the fertilizer. IN the autumn
r~- raadv TO seed the alfalfa use l.
I'D hounds OF q 1o-s-s fertilizer. seed
s--.ntx pounds OF choice. recleared
American seed and distrloute It uni
forrnly by q barrow seeeer ana cover
Efn#rIW. Any LAIur aANCA ~7-~~>f~- -
~i1i be good time to seed II is de-
ssrable to get the seed IN relatively
earIw 30 as TO secure q good stand and
S~xefoD considerable growth before
e,,eezfnw weather occurs II supply or
earmvard manure be available. top
ar.~slnr the crop we'll At the rate or
1 10 ne tons per acre. the farger amount
n~Fnr nreferable. wiz be good practice,
The alfalfa may be cut for hay the next
~nrinr IL the growth IL strong and
.-rr .rsospss isul n drT5 '1ou IT .snofoSEA
~li1pfnr should be dQre frequently and
$3.50 mover blade shoiHd be set 80 as 20
~nt as close TO the ground as possible.
a. this win help 70 destroy the Gran
grass.
NJ should be said IN passing that al
ra1fa seed should be inoculated. The
r,av be done with an artfreial culture.
fhonrh from our experience We would
crefer TO use 200 to 500 pounds OF soil
e~om field where the crop has been
crown successfully. The soil may be
r.sred with the seed or distributed over
me surface OF the ground and worked
IN with a harrow. The labor ana ex-
rause involved I'm preparing the land for
NaRlfa may be considered unreason-
ale BY many. but these suggestions
mra made as the result OF some years