The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-16
arabic land. none too much for the
crop making the best hay on earth.
Present Acreage.

Tho present acreage in North Dako-
ia is quite unknown. but it certainly
is not above 5000. ii is seen at once
that it will require several years to
work up to the desired acreage, and
IL will require also a large quantity of
sced-even t. increase the acreage as
rapidly AS is desired.
wish to take an optimistic view
OF the future agriculture of North Da-
kota, and to do this. let me assume
that in the course of the next ten or
fifteen years the alfalfa acreage in the
state will increase a th~ousand-fold.
To SOW such an area would require
some 100000 pounds of seed. AS
Stunning a yield of 200 pounds per acre.
it would require 10000 acres to pro-
duce the required mou of seed.
Fortunately this mount of seed
does not have to be produced at once.
but it needs to be produced as rapidly
as possible in order to keep anywheres
near the demand. ! am giving you
these figures in an effort to impress
upon you the seriousness of the alf-
alta seed proposition at the present
time. | might mention that often one
makes a strike" in alfalfa seed pro-
Guction. Mr.. Brevig of Mckenzie
county. for instance. raised four BUSH
els of Grimm see from onc-half acre
in 1911. This would easily sell at the
rue Oh Al44 per acre.
Outside Demand.
North Dakota is not the only state
that is making an effort to secure
hardy alfalfa seed. 1t has been found
that certain strains of alfalfa, par
tlculrlN the Grimm. succeed better in
the north central and in the north
Atlantic states than other alfalfas.
Thus the states east from North De-
kota to the Atlantic ocean, as far
south as Pennsylvania. Ohio and In.
diana are DESTROYS of securing north
ern grown alfalfa seed of hardy
strains.
The alfalfa plant is peculiar in pro-
ducing seed. it requires special con-
ditions. 1t is the real business of the
alfalfa plant to produce hay. The
production of seed is d necessary evil.
The primary production has been hay
for so many thousands of years, and
seed only secondary. that special con-
ditions are necessary for seed pro-
duction. This long time production
of e under dry atmospheric condi-
lions has perhaps become inbred thus
limiting seed production in humid
areas. Whatever the reason. the fact
is. seed production is not successful
ordinarily in such states as Illinois,
Pennsylvania Or Vermont.
Value of Alfalfa.
Perhaps / should not have men.
toned this outside demand for alfalfa
seed. for it is the local demand that
is of the very greatest importance in
this state. If North Dakota were ruled
by an absolute king I would expect
him to publish a decree forbidding
the export of any hardy alfalfa 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
cheaply SO that they can be given an
economical finish with corn and small
grains. Alfalfa is to he 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 Dakota
grown alfalfa seed is undoubtedly
hardness. 1t lies in the power of the
North Dakota farmer to break up n
hardy alfalfa g trust that may be
IN existence. The Dickinson station
has already co-operated will, nearly
forty farmers in the growing Of
Grimm alfalfa in cultivated rows for
N>N PAONdStloH IL Is expected mat
future cooperation will he, entered
into this coming spring. Explicit in.
structtons are sent out with the seed
for sowing and taking care of the
crop. The small tracts scattered over
the state will form a leavening infu.
ence serving to put the alfalfa seed in.
dustry within the hands of the farm
ers.
Pure Seed Associations.
AS the farmers of the state begin
TO grow their own seed. it will be to
their great advantage to form pure
seed associations. Such associations
would not be entirely unlike the Hol.
stein breeding circuit established at
New Salem. N. d. The members Of
the association would. of course, have
to abide by the rules agreed upon by
all. The association would sell its seed
direct to the consumer thereby doing
away with the profits Of the middle.
man.. The association would gmaran-
tee the quality and purity Of the seed
and would thus be enabled to COM
mand good prices. In this way the
purity and g~enuincncss of the strain.
would he preserved. In addition to
hardness. the time will soon come
when other characters vii, be looked
for In alfalfa seed.
There are three remarkable thtnss