Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-08-27

| 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-
stve evidence Of the great value of
alfalfa
There are few farmers whose profits
~oald not be increased greatly by rails
lag elfalf&. Every farmer should aim
to produce, as far as possible, his
poodstuffB upon his own farm.
During the last few years, the area
devoted to alfalfa has greatly in
creased in the region west Of the Mis-
DouH river, and 1t is certain that
there will be an equally rapid in
crease throughout the eastern and
Southern parts Of the United States.
Many OF the attempts In the past
30 grow alfalfa in the humid regions
haye failed. but with our present
knowledge Of the requirements Of the
Drop thort Win be little, IL ANY, moro
TcNbta In securing q stand.
Aifeifa TiIl soon be grown Gbun-
S'antly' and 2roftsbly upon eve5.y 2arn.
II Ia no move diff cult 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
grasser die for want Of moisture. Al
falfa roots grow deep into the SOIL
far beyond the roots Of other plants.
It's drouth resisting power is of no
greater Importance than it's great
value as q soil enricher. 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 tho most
essential element in feed to make
bone. blood and muscle In growing AMI
mails.
Why We Need Alfalfa. .
There 10 NO combination Of feeds
20 e6oRoEaIcal for the production Of
beeS, peek mutton. butter and egge,
~ cora and alfalfa. Neither viii give
the b0st results alone. We nUeG aiIsi.
f. because it balances up tho corn
ration and saves tho largo waste OF
starch which always takeB place
where corn is fed alone. We need
alfalfa because we can by means Of 1t
grow on our own farms the protein
moro profitably than we can buy it in
feed stuifs. We need alfalfa because
1t feeds the soil and enables US to
grow larger crops Of corn and oats
We need alfalfa becauBe 1t produces
on an average double the feed value
per acre OF clover or any other forage
crop.
iadvIaabIe TO lnocuIate.
In regions where alfalfa has not
been grown It 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
is 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 Essentials.
: A. well prepared, firm, solid seed
bed, plenty Of good barnyard manure,
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 is
not suited for alfalfa. -
Make a 6eaInnInn--star. New.
Every farmer should try at least
a small pio5e OF alfalfa and IL he
does not Bucceed at first, try
again and keep on trying until he does
succeed. It is worth the while. If
the work is thoroughly done and at
the proper time. you will most GER
ltainly succeed In securing good
stand; II the work is half done and
,out OF season, you will just as cer-
tainly fail. Make beginning start
lnow.