Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-10-17
ALFALFA As FOOD
FOR The PEOPLE
First Attempt to Make Alfalfa
Food and Medicine for People
Started in the Black Hills.
From tho Mapkato Daily Review.

From tho Mapkato Daily Review.
A great deal is being said in the
public press nowadays about alfalfa.
The farmers are being urged to grow
more OF 1t as a ration for every ami
NAL on the farm. There Is not a farm
in the world that will not grow it n
der proper conditions. 1t Is found in
the frigid north and the torrid south
and everywhere, it is the same rich
food.
The early history Of alfalfa begins
in the year 400 b. c., when the Per-
slams invaded Greece. They carried
OF war. h y early Roman writer's,
mention in some of their writings
methods of growing and curing the
plant for stock food purposes.
First Seed sown
In the year 100 A. d. the seed was
first grown in Italy. The next fore
part of the Sixteenth century alfalfa
during the latter part OF the same CEN
tury 1t was brought to the United
States and an attempt made to grow.
It along h New England coast, but
not with much success at first.
In 1854 the first alfalfa seed was
Pacific coast, having been brought
there from South America. It quickly
spread eatward and up nj down tho
coast. and In the spring Of 1889 the
first seed was planted in h Black
Hills district OF western South Da-
kota from the original California seed.
1t was introduced there by Captain
Seth Bullock, at present United States
marshal OF South Dakota. In the veal
1857 q young German named Grimm
brought 20 pounds Of seed from his
old home in Germany to his now farup
MINI.
BY persistent effort this young farm
er built up by selection a hardy alfalfa
plant which today IL recognized by the
highest authorities OF the country to
be the best variety for the cold north
western states. It seems to be the
only variety that will not winter KILL
It carries the name of its originator.
Grimm. The old fields planted by him
many a ago are still growing as
luxuriantly as. ever.
Soil Must es We'll Drained
Alfalfa will do we'll on any soil that
will grow corn or any of the common
crops. The most important thing is
to have III soil well drained. for al
falfa will not thrive in wet or sour
soil: There are many ways Of pre-
pairing the soil, sowing the seed and
taking care of the field. A farmer
should get all the Information possi-i
BILE before starting his field should buy
nothing but Grimm seed and should
plant the first year only 9 small patch
L ~ ~A ca AAS 1873 ~ OkICC txI0
farmer has learned how to grow 1t
successful. he should put every. avail
able acre on his farm into alfalfa.
On every farm of 100 acres. there.
will probably be an average Of about,
% acres that will grow alfalfa sue
cessfully. This part of h farm
planted to alfalfa will prove to be the
most profitable.
Makes MUSCLE and Brains
Alfalfa carries more protein, which
Is the base Of all foods, than all other
stock foods. 1t Is not considered q
fat producer, but instead makes mus
Gle and bone. 1t will produce a larger
bone In hog and better meat than
corn. Western hog growers feed al
falfa as q steady diet until about two
weeks before marketing then finish
on corn.
another step forward In the history OF
this marvellous plant. 1t has In larger
quantities. h any other food the
three elements. protein, fat md car
bohydrates. which are necessary in all
foods. Besides. it carries a medicinal
element which is very active on the
kidneys and all organs OF secretion and
excretion. It is this medicinal element
that aids in the building up of live
stock. No other food has It so strong.
First Attempt at Alfalfa Foods.
Out in the Black Hills Of South Da-
kOta the first real attempt to make
alfalfa foods. drinks and medicine for
people was commenced about four
years ago. by Mark G. Rich. an ex-
pert on alfalfa growing. About W.
years ago ne was Joined by F. w. Bow
er. who has been responsible largely
IN placing the many products manu-
featured from alfalfa on q commercial
basis. For the past two years some
form Of alfalfa has been served in the
homes Of these two men at every meal.
n alfalfa flour makes an excellent
bread, cakes. biscuits or anything that
flour is Used for. The alfalfa tea has
been sold by these men all over the
country. It resembles very closely the
ordinary imported green tea in flavor.
There are something like 25 products,
all made from alfalfa. which have been
brought ,~out by these two men. 1t
would be difficult to find a more pala-
table candy or table syrup han that
made from alfalfa and sugar. The al
falfa extract, when prepared in their
way. makes a delicious drink which
has been named alta Lusa." It sis
on sale in 112 Of the best drug
n CONNECTION stores in Minneapolis
at h present time. and can be had at
the soda fountains in Mankato. It has
passed the pure food requirements of
Minnesota with flying colors.
Alfalfa u q Medicine.
AS a medicine alfalfa has a wonder
full future. DIR. L. ID. Ballor. Of Lead, s.
D.. who has worked~with Mr.. Rich and
Mr.. Bower on the medicinal qualities
of the alfalfa plant is now at Mime
apoIis and has charge of the medicinal
department OF the company. The actY-
al cures recorded thus far seem al
most impossible. It seems to act as
an eliminant OF h wastes OF the body,
especially through the kidneys. It will