The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-01-18
The production Of seed 10 Q nocss-
sary evil. The primary production

The production Of seed 70 . n0css-
sary evil. The primary production
has been hay tor SO many tnousan IS
of years, and seed only secondary,
that special conditions are necessary
for seed production. This long time
production of seed under dry atmos-
pheric conditions has perhaps b.
come inbred thus limiting seed pro-
duction in humid areas. Whatever
the reason, the fact is, seed produc-
tion is not successful ordinarily in
such states az Illinois, Pennsylvania
or Vermont.
Value OF Alfalfa
Perhaps should uot have mention
ed this outside demand for alfalfa
seed, for it is the local demand that
is of the very greatest Importance
in this state. II North Dakota were
ruled by an absolute king would
expect him to publish a decree for
bidding the export of any hardy al.
talfa seed from the state until the
farmers here were amply supplied.
We must not forget what alfalfa is
for. Alfalfa is a feed for our poul-
try 1t is to be fed to young and ma
turing hogs to make them grow
cheaply so that they can be given an
economical finish with corn and small
grains. Alfalfa is to be fed to grow
ing stock and to colts, and alfalfa Is
to be fed as hay to horses; but over
and above all, alfalfa Is to be fed to
mich cows to produce milk,-this is
to be the greatest function Of alfalfa
in North Dakota.
Hardness Essential.
The first essential for North Dako
ia grown alfalfa seed is undoubtedly
hardness It lies in the power Of
North Dakota farmers to break uI
any hardy alfalfa seed trust that may
be in existence. The Dickinson sta
tion has already cooperated witt
nearly 40 farmers in the growing Of
Grimm alfalfa in cultivated rows fol
seed production. 1t is expected thai
future cooperation will be entered
into this coming spring. Explici
instructions are sent out with thu
seed for sowing and taking care O.
the crop. The small tracts scattered
over the state will form a leavenint
influence serving to put the alfalfa
seed industry within the hands of tn,
farmers.
Pure Seed Associations. s.--.. .
AS. the farmers of the state begil
to grow their own seed, it will b.
to their great advantage to form pur'
seed associations. Such association
would not be entirely unlike the Hol
stein Breeding Circuit established a
New Salem, N. Oak. The member
of the association would, of course
have to abide by the rules agree
upon by all The association woul,
sell IT'S seed direct to the consume
thereby doing away with the profit
of the middleman. The association
would guarantee the quality an
purity of the seed and would thu
be enabled to command good prices
In this way the purity and genuine.
ness of the strains would be pre-
served. In addition to hardness, tn,
time will soon come when othe
characters will be looked for in al
falfa seed.
Points for Breeding.
There are three remarkable thing
about alfalfa; (1) it's high yields; a.
its wide range of adaptabtlity; and
(3) its high protein content. It Il
the protein in alfalfa that produces
the increased milk flow and give
such wonderful results in growing an
imals. We are already beginning t,
breed alfalfa for other character
than hardness In the first plac.
We want to increase the quality of tn,
plant for hay and this may be done
by selecting out the best type o
hay plant and propagating 1t. suct
a plant must be leafy, REASONABLE!
succulent, and disease resistant. Al
falfa must be bred for It's protein
content, the high protein content t
be combined with the maxima o.
other hardy alfalfa qualities. Il
would be valuable indeed to breed
a hardy alfalfa that would be known
- d