Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1913-08-07
Alfalfa Should be Grown
on Every Farm
l. 1t is a profitable crop.
2. Increases farm values.
3. Excels every other crop
In yield per acre
In feeding value
As a drouth resister
As q soil enricher.
4. No harder to grow than clover.
S. Make q beginning-start now
grow some alfalfa.

Repeated experiments made by the
agricultural colleges, and the results
obtained by the actual growers Of al
falfa in the semi-arid sections Of the
west, throughout the corn belt states,
and In the south and east, are conclu-
sive evidence Of the great value Of
alfalfa
Many Of US are slow to recognize
its great value. but alfalfa will soon
be grown abundantly and profit
ably upon every farm. It Is no
more difficult to grow than clover
and gives double the yield. The
deep roofing habit Of alfalfa enables
1t to resist drouth when clover. tim
othy. blue grass and other forage
grasses die for want OF moisture. Al
falfa roots grow deep into the soil
far beyond the reach of other plants
tor moisture.
Its drouth resisting power is Of no
greater Importance than its great
value as soil enlicher. The long
roots bring phosphorus, potash and
other plant foods from below and
store them In the upper Soil for the
use OF other plants Experiments show
greatly increased yields Of other crops
grown upon alfalfa sod.
Alfalfa is rich in protein the most
essential element in feed to make
bone, blood and tissue In growing ami.
mails.
Why We Need Alfalfa.
There Is no combination Of feeds
SO economicsl for the production Of
beef, pork, mutton, butter and eggs,
as corn and alfalfa Neither will give
the best results alone. We need alfal.
ia because it balances up the corn
ration and saves the large waste Of
starch which always takes place
where corn is fed alone. We need
alfalfa because we can in this way
grow on our own farms the protein
more protita5ly than we can buy it in
feed stu7s. We need alfalfa because
1t feeds the soil and enables US to
grow larger crops Of corn and oats.
We need alfalfa because it produces
on an average double the feed value
per acre OF clover or any other forage
crop.
Advisable TO inoculate.
In regions where alfalfa has not
been grown 1t is found to be neces-
sary to inoculate the ground by SOW.
ing three or four bags of soil secured
from q field where alfalfa or sweet
clover has been grown for
number of years; or where 1t
IL more convenient. artificial cul-
ture, such as "nitragin." "farmo-
germ" etc, may be applied. Where
alfalfa has not been grown before 1t
may make the difference between sue
cess and failure.
Alfalfa a Poor Weed Fighter.
Alfalfa, when small, grows slowly,
and IL not good fighter, l. e., cannot
compete with weeds and especially
with crab grass. and oats. wheat. or
barley, as the case may be, and when
these are cut off the alfalfa is in no
condition to compete with foxtail and
other weeds during the dry weather of
July and August. When soWn in the
spring without nurse crop, there 10
constant struggle with the weeda
duriEs the entire season. and the
weeds generally come out best, leav,
ing poor patchy stand of alfalfa.
Alfalfa Essentials.
A well prepared, firm. solid seed
bed, plenty OF good barnyard manue,
and fallow to kill the weeds, are most
important. Lime? Yes. one to two
loads per acre. and by all means in.
oculate. Ground too wet for corn 10
not suited for alfalfa.
Make eeginnlng-start Now.
Every farmer should try at least
. small piece Of alfalfa and II he
does not succeed at first. try
again and keep on trying until he does
succeed. It IL worth the while. II
the work IL thoroughly done and at
the propert time. you will most GER
tainly succeed in securing q good
stand: II the work is half done and
out Of season. you will just as GER
tainly fail. Make beginning-start
GOV.