Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1911-09-08
ORCHARD GRASS
AND Al FALFA
Do WELL on THE SAME LAND
WITHOUT HINDERfNG EACH
OTHER

While in town iasi Friday. Frank
Nlllsaps gave out some information
~ garding The cultivation Of alfalfa
that might be Of interest to the
farmers of the entire country. In
answer TO an inquiry. Mr.. Millsaps
stated that his alfalfa fields this
year viii average seven or eight
tons per acre for three cuttings
aui he has one field Of eight acres
that i good for ten tons per acre.
That Is alfalfa mixed with orchard
grass.
Mr. Milisaps expresses the be-
iief that any of the farmers IN LIN
coin county can raise len tons Of
alfalfa ana orchard grass per acre
as an average crop providing they
give il proper cultivation and as-
tenlion His THEORY in regard TO
orchard grass is thai il fills UP the
vacant spaces between the alfalfa
stools and practically adds that
much to the hay yield for the sea
son; and that ii comes on in Just
about equal growth with the alfal-
ia 50 that ii does not disturb the
cutting time in the least.
BE believes there may be- other
grasses that would Yield as we'll as
orchard grass. but the trouble with
them IN combination with alfalfa is
That they form d sod and crowd
out the alfalfa. ANY sod forming
plant in an alfalfa field that ex-
pands or spreads. Will finally run
the alfalfa out entirely.
Orchard grass does not sod: if
simply forms stools which fill in
between those Of Inc alfalfa and
inus completely occupies the
ground.
SIR. Milisaps thinks the hay is
superior to the pure alfalfa hay for
general purposes and is less liable
10 cause alfalfa bloat in turning
stock upon it after the three cut
iiugs- While orchard grass Is not
an insurance against alfalfa bloat
u does reduce the tendency TO
HAT trouble very materially.
Last year Mr. Milsaps turned
his dairy herd on the alfalfa pas
iure for the season but they were
taken off the field al night for
milking and were not turned back
into the pasture until about eight
O'Clock the next morning. As "a
Result they went to the field in tie
morning with Sharpened appethes
and he hau considerable trouble
With alfalfa bl0at. in fact he lost
seven fine animals. This season he
pastures his alfalfa again but he
Keeps the cows IN there all the
time, except for the short period
required for milking. and at that
time he feeds them alfalfa meal.
ihi> plan works very saiisfactor-
ils as l. evidenced by the fact that
he has had no eases Of alfalfa bloat
this year, on at least none that
were serious.
II the farmers in The county
would increase The yield Of their
alfalfa fields by several toas per
acre for each season by extra care
and cultivation ami by using part
orchard grass 10 fill in the vacant
spaces. one can readily see that
The gain to the county would be
tremendous a. result
'f each years anaia crop.
The Journai has believed an along
hat Lincoln county soil with alb
andance % wafer for irrigation IS
'apable Of producing immense
'rops OF alfalfa hay or of alfalfa
mixed with orchard grass. But. of
curse, in breaking up .-.e new
and and opening new larms the
Deople viii have to do the best
hey can under the circumstances
lnd even Slip-shod meinous or cui-
iVaiion are better Than none. But
De time Is drawing near when il
glli pay all of our ranchers to
dopi the mefhods Of intensive
armng and thereby secure greatly
niareed yields and more satisfac-
CRY profits.