The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-07
RAISING CORN AND ALFALFA.

Argument is no longer necessary to
demonstrate that in diversified farm
ing lies the chief hope Of the North.
west for steady development. The sim
gle crop plan has been outgrown, and
progressive farmers are no longer put
Ting all their eggs in one basket. The
process of Investigation has been 60
ing on for some time in the parts of
Minnesota that have been longest set
lied, as the remarkable growth of the
dairy interests of the State shows.
But the raising of cattle and hogs for
the market has Jagged, despite the
great profits to be derived therefrom.
The Dakotas, which like Minnesota
started as wheat States, have made
progress in Investigation. They are
NOW raising cattle and hogs and reap
ing the advantages Of high and sure
market.
Two crops are especially needed to
make cattle and hog raising profitable
corn and alfalfa. It used to be sup
posed that corn could not be matured
80 far north as Northern Minnesota,
but the fallacy of this supposition has
been repeatedly demonstrated. Our
northern corn is admirable. The rails
ing Of alfalfa, however, is still in its
infancy in Minnesota. But there can
be no doubt that hardy varieties have
now been found and developed that
will make it one of our staple crops.
The beauty of alfalfa is that, be-
sides yielding three crops of fine hay
every year, it fertilizes the ground
meanwhile. 1t sends its roots deep
and brings up valuable fertilizing ele-
nents. But its greatest service is due
to the habit its roots have of taking
free nitrogen from the air and leaving
II as fixed nitrogen in the SOIL Thus
is accomplished by natural process
what scientists have long been trying
TO do chemically. AS crop to re-
claim WORKOUT lands alfalfa is for this
reason invaluable. For example, wheat
grown on alfalfa sod has yielded sixty
one bushels to the acre, while wheat
sxown on timothy sod in the same To-
carity yielded but forty-two. Barley
and corn showed similar results.
There are now five million acres Of
Alfalfa in the country, of which one
million are in Kansas alone-which
perhaps accounts for the fact that
most Kansas farmers own automo-
biles and have bank accounts. Il.
Under the inspiration Of the Better
Farming Association, North Dakota is
making rapid progress in the raising
Of alfalfa and corn, and as conse-
quence of cattle and hogs. In 1909
sue of sixteen million acres of cult
waited land there were only 1898 acres
IT alfalfa in North Dakota. In 1912
this alfalfa area had grown to slightly
vver five thousand acres. This year
the total acreage is not yet definitely
known, but it has doubled and perhaps
sarebled Within four or five years
ahere will be half million acres Of
alfalfa in the State, with an economic
value that can scarcely be estimated.
Il is the basis on which the future
livestock production of the State must
rest. The corn acreage has increased
from 1922 acres in 1909 to 1928 900
a 1912 and to probably over 5000
ahis year. Hog production has in
creased 1873 per cent from 1910 to 1912
md at least fifteen per cent this year.
These achievements Of North Da-
2ota, largely due to the organized ef-
abrts Of the Better Farming Associa-
aon, point the way for Minnesota.
We must raise more corn and alfalfa
more cattle and hogs. That way lies
wealth and prosperity.