The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-01-17

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will approximate 100000. But this ap-
parently large acreage would mean
only about fifteen acres upon each
quarter section Of arabic land, none
too much for the crop making the best
hay on earth.
Present Acreage.
THE present acreage in North Da-
kota is quite unknown, but it certainly
is not above 5000. 1t is seen at once
that it will require several years to
work UP to the desired acreage. and it
will require also a large quanti-
.ty Of seed, even to increase the acre
age as rapidly as, is desired.
I wish to take an optimistic view of
the future agriculture of North Dakota
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 thousand fold. To SOW
such an area would require some a.
100000 pounds Of seed. Assuming a
yield of 200 pounds per acre, it would
require 10000 acres to produce the re-
quired amount of seed.
Fortunately this amount of seed
does not have to be produced at once,
but 1t needs to be produced as rapidly
as possible in order to keep anywhere
near the demand. I am giving you
these figures in an effort to impress
upon you the seriousness of the alfalfa
seed proposition at the present time.
/ might mention that often one makes
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Mr.. Brevig of Mckenzie county. for
instance, raised four bushels Of Grimm
seed from one-half acre in 1911. This
would easily sen at the rate Of $144
per acre.
Outside Demand.
North Dakota is not the only state
that Is making an effort to secure
hardy seed. 1t has been found that
certain strains of alfalfa, particularly
the Grimm. succeed better in the north
central and in the north Atlantic states
than other alfaIfas. Thus the states
east from North Dakota, to the Allan
tic ocean, as far south as Pennsylvan-
La, Ohio and Indiana are desirous of
securing northern 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 a 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 produc-
tion. This long time production OF
seed under dry atmospheric condi-
tions has perhaps become inbred thus
limiting seed production In humid
is, seed production is not successful
ordinarily in such states as Illinois,
Pennsylvania or Vermont
Value of Alfalfa.
Perhaps should not 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 forbidding the ex-
port of any hardy alfalfa seed from
the state until the farmers were amply
supplied.
I'VE must not forget what alfalfa lis
for. Alfalfa is q food FOR our poultry.
1t in to ba fed to young and maturing
hogs to naISa them grew ctleapty so
that they can be gtuan an economical
flniah with corn and small grains Al
faJfa is to be fed to growing stock and
to colts, and alfalfa Is to be fed as hay
to horses; but over and above all
alfalfa III To he fed To fniich enyUa To