The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-02-21
"Alfana's. Affn- !.
Hy'' up to Date
Alfalfa is Called a Meat-maker,
Milk maker and Money maker
and IS Worth Trying

advantage of this fact, to their great
profit. It is the ''stock food" par ex-
excellence, and there is no other .'just
as good" Alfalfa growing is pre-
lude to permanent prosperity. From
obscurity, alfalfa has advanced to the
foremost rank of the hay-plants and
multiplied many times the output Of
tame hay. 1t is noteworthy, if not
significant, that the present era of
unprecedented prosperity in the central
west dates from the time alfalfa was
first shown proper appreciation by her
farmers.
All who know alfalfa best esteem it
as one Of the richest acquisitions to
American agriculture, and in the North
west conditions seem naturally adapted
by it's most abundant and economical
production. AS afeedstuff, practicular.
ly its leafy portions, alfalfa is estimated
to have value closely approximating
that of wheat bran. It is proven
superior to the justly priced red clover
as soil restorer and its annual hay
yield per acre is from one to two times
greater. Besides one to two cuttings
of hay in the same season, seed crop
harvested is often found a source of
greater profit than if hay alone was
the consideration.
The alfalfa growing in central western
states approximates millions of acres,
and but three cultivated crops exceed it
in annual area, viz: wheat, corn and
oats. In combination with these,
alfalfa furnishes the most complete and
cheapest rations anywhere available
for the maintenance of live stock, for
the excellence of which they are famed.
It is perennial blessing to those so
fortunate as to have an area devoted to
its growing.
Alfalfa is exceedingly rich in protein,
the element in which corn and other
crops are deficient, and hence it serves
admirably as balance to- the feeding
ration, saving the purchance of high
priced feed stuffs such as wheat bran;
it is this quality that makes it especially
priced as factor in dairy husbandry.
1t supplies the one requisite which
Providence had apparently failed to
provide in establishing the otherwise
readymade conditions for dairying in
the Northwest. t
There is no other hay SO good as
alfalfa for all kinds Of live stock, and
for horses and hogs alfalfa is invaluable,
either as hay, q soiling crop, or as
pasture. It is the excelling hog pasture,
and, with hogs, makes one of the most
profitable farm combinations.
An alfalfa field is said to be hogs
idea of heaven.
''The cultivation and feeding of alf-
alta mark the highest development of
modern agriculture. Alfalfa is one Of
natures choicest gifts to man.; it is, the
reserver and conserver of the home
stead. It does not fail from old age.
It loves the sunshine, converting the
sunbeams into gold coin in the pockets
of the thrifty husbandman. J II is the
greatest mortgagelifter yet tdiscovered. /"
The Northwest is unique in many
things, but in none more than in the
commanding position she should occupy
in relation to alfalfa growing. Her
development in this industry should. be
one of the marvels Of her prolific agri-
culture, and with alfalfa, as with small
grains, no other section should be her
equal in its area and production.
As meat-maker, smilk-maker, and
money-maker, alfalfa is equally priced,
and as rejuvanator and improver of
soils it has no rival. Wherever alfalfa
grows the land is not only enriched but
the grower as well, for it not only fills
the soil with valuable plant food, but as
hay and pasture it brings large returns
that substantially increase the owner .
bank account. Through its wonderful
root-system, alfalfa restores, enriches
and improves rather than depieates the
soil, to the great benefit Of other sue
ceeding crops. It makes poor land
good, and good land better.
Those who have known alfalfa long
est and best are the ones who esteem