Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1913-12-12
MONEY IN ALFALFA
MAY BE CUT SEVERAL TIMES A
YEAR-THREE TO SIX
TONS TO ACRE.
NEEDS SOWING EVERY FEW YEARS
A. q Soil Enricher Alfalfa Has Few,
II Any, superiors-Ranks High in
Feeding vaiue-Great Pasture
Plant for Hogs.

The alfalfa campaign has come and
gone but there are points of such real
merit in this work that we should not
permit the enthusiasm aroused to die
down and thus waste the benefits OF
the campaign. The continual CROP
ping of wheat takes the life out of the
soil and ultimately leaves 1t impover-
ished. Not only that, but the ten
dency to large farms means fewer
owners and resident families and
smaller population. The further de-
velopment and prosperity of the towns
and rural communities of the Inland
Empire depends largely upon more d.
versified farming and better farming
methods. Because it is a profitable
crop in itself, because it is soil en-
richer and drouth resister, and be-
cause of it's high feeding value. alfalfa
seems to point the way.
Virtues Of Alfalfa.
Alfalfa is a perennial, enduring on
well-drained soil from five to fifty
years with one sowing. It may be cut
from three to five times year and
will yield from three to six tons of hay
per acre. Alfalfa Is no more difficult
to grow than clover or timothy and
gives double the yield. 1t is also one
of the best drought resisters. 1t Is a
good paying crop, being one of the
easiest plants to grow and one Of the
hardest plants known.
AS a soil enricher, alfalfa has few If
any superiors, according to the ex-
perts. 1t is the greatest of all sub
soilers, add humus to the ground and
insures larger yields from the crops
that follow.
Alfalfa also ranks high in feeding
value. The composition of alfalfa hay
is such that it has almost the same
nutritive value as wheat bran and it
may be substituted for wheat bran in
the feed ration with good results. AS
a pasture plant for hogs it has no
equal in the amount of weight that
animals will gain from an acre of it,
as much as 600 pounds per acre being
frequently reported where hogs have
grazed it. Experts claim that alfalfa
contains more protein per ton than
clover or corn; that it is the cheapest
and best feed for beef cattle, is unex-
celled for dairy calves and increases
the milk flow. In fact it is claimed for
alfalfa that it is unexcelled as feed
for all classes of livestock.
The big corporations and organiza-
tions of today realize, more than ever
before, that their success depends
upon the success and prosperity Of
the community at large and many Of
them are conducting or contributing
literally to various campaigns for the
direct benefit of their clientele or the
general public. Their ability to plan
largely and literally for the future Is
one of the chief things that make big
concerns big.
The plan of the Holden campaign is
to give the aid of experts to any COM
munity interested in conducting a
campaign to encourage the growing Of
alfalfa and improve farming condi-
tions. The idea of the campaign is
to get direct to the people interested,
by the use of special alfalfa trains.
with experts and prominent speakers
and auto trips to representative farms
and Investigations of soils and dem
onstrations on the ground. Several
successful campaigns were conducted
in the middle west before the recent
campaign in this section.
The Inland Empire Campaign.
The alfalfa campaign in the Inland
Empire began September 30. continu.
ing until October 20. 1t was conduct.
ed by the Holden party with the CO.
operation of the Spokane chamber Of
commerce. agricultural colleges. state
governments, the railroads, farmers
unions and other organizations. dur.
ing this campaign 5000 miles were
travelled over Ave railway systems
with stops Mt $40 towns and numerous
side trips. over 500 lectures were
given.
In the Inland Empire campaign II
was argued that the continual crop
ping of wheat from year to year will
ultimately exhaust the fertility of the
soil and that 1t Is necessary to rotate
some leguminous crop with 1t. The
more general growing OF alfalfa was
urged both on its own merits and be
cause 1t will In turn stimulate the live
stock and dairying industries and
bring about more diversified farming
practices.
Let us in this community all help
boost for the growing Of more alfalfa
for more diversified farming and bet