The Dickinson press., 1911-01-21


Tremendous interest is now being
taken in the alfalfa crop. This interest
is due to various causes. among them
being the quality Of the crop produced.
the character Of the farming which the
Introduction of the crop signifies. still
others to the quality impressed upon the
soil by the alfalfa plant.
Alfalfa is the Oldest known forage
plant, having been introduced into;
Greece by the Persians in the fifth
century. B. c. Forage crops unlike
human food stuffs, were brought into
cultivation from the wild state at
comparatively late date. There have
been three introductions of alfalfa into
this country, which have left their per-
manent mark. OAe of these was into
California. from Chill, in the ifties.
another into the Atlantic states from
Europe in the 18th century, and the third
into Minnesota from Germany in the
late 6fties.
INTRODUCTION OF ALFALFA
The introduction of alfalfa from Chilli
into California has extended until there
are millions of acres devoted to the crop.
The introduction of Grimm alfalfa into
Minnesota. only three years later. is just
beginning 10 bear fruit. There are
probably less than 1000 acres of Grimm
alfalfa under cultivation. It is manifest
that it is the Grimm alfalfa that will
be the alfalfa for the Middle Northwest.
and for several other of the northern
states.
Alfalfa has been cultivated in a
limited way in North Dakota for 20
years. Due to the abundance of the
open range. the necessity of tame fodder
plants has not been felt until within
the last few years. The eastern sec
tions of the state, that are losing out in
grain production, are now looking out
for forage plants.
The alfalfa plant is deep rooted
perennial. having tap root with lateral
feeders. From the crown at the surface
of the ground there arise many stems,
often more than 100. When one growth
is ready for the sickle it is ready to send
up q renewed growth, and so one crop
follows another so long as moisture and
temperature conditions are favorable.
Its wonderful root development makes
the plant of great importance in North
Dakota, for in this we see wonderful
ability to resist drouth if the plants are
so grown that they are able to attain
full development.
COMPOSITION OF ALFALFA
The plant should appeal to North
Dakota farmers because of its compost
tion. The Alfalfa plant is full of the
lean meat principle. In other words. it
contains an abundance of protein. or
flesh forming element Of food. Alfalfa
hay contains from ~ to 2N times as
much protein as prairie hay.
Comparing alfalfa with prairie hay
and wheat bran we find that the protein
in 100 pounds of prairie hay is worth Is
cents, the protein in 100 pounds of
alfalfa is worth II cents and the protein
in 100 pounds of wheat bran is worth 80
cents. If prairie hay is worth $11.o5
per ton. alfalfa would have value of
SIG. 60 per ton and wheat bran would
have value of s22. IS per ton. Alfalfa
hay practically always sells for less than
its calculated value.
If the comparative values of alfalfa
and prairie hay were extended to North
Dakota fields. and the results secured
per acre, the margin would be much
greater than indicated. Alfalfa will
probably. yield five times as much hay
per acre as will the native upland
prairie.
Alfalfa is preeminently protein
feed, and is shown to the best advantage
where protein is demanded. For grow
ind stock, and milk cattle it has no
superior, nor is it equalled by any other
forage plant.
FOR FATTENlNG STOCK
An experiment was made in Nebraska
and it was found that calves fed on
alfalfa hay gained nearly twice as much
as those fed on prairie hay. t took 10
pounds Of alfalfa to make one pound of
gain, as against II pounds of prairie