The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-09
ALFALFA ACR|CULTU
WONDER OF CENTURY
James BellwOOd, OF Chesterfield,
Raises $4,000 Crop on 100
Acres.
kOINER ISSUES BULLETIN
Urges Virginia Farmers to Study
Methods Of Growing Alfalfa and
Its Value as balanced Ration for
FatteninR Cattle.

That the farmers OF Virginia have
begun 10 realize the value OF alfalfa
ana It's superiority as feed for all sorts
or live stock IN indicated by a Hood OF
letters OF inquiry now pouring In upon
Commissioners Of Agriculture George
W. Koiner
Nothing could please mo better"
said the commissioner yesterday. The
possibilities OF alfalfa growing in Wiz
Sinia were overlooked entirely until a
Few enterprsins farmers with ad-
Vanced ideas began TO grow alfalfa In
large acreage. The splendid success
OF these few growers has had the ef-
feet OF awaking the interest Of the
many.
II have been advocating alfalfa grow
ing for years and ] have cndcavored
to educate the agriculturls,s to a
proper understanding OF the nourish :
ing qualities OF alfalfa. have tried
in every way 10 show. for example, that
while corn-fed pigs may be. fat those
same pigs would be larger n fed on
both corn and alfalfa. Protein is neces-
sary in growing animals 10 develop
bone. muscle. blood. nerve and tissue.
Animals fed only on corn do not get
sufficient protein. Protein Is the real
frame builder. Corn is deficient in
protein. but has an abundance Of starch
and sugar. Neither alfalfa nor corn
when fed exclusively will give hes,
results. while a combination OF the ;wo
makes perfectly balanced ration. y
balanced ration is combination o.
feeds containing elements necessary
for the proper physical develobme I
OF the animal Protein builds the
frame. corn puts on the fat
AGRICULTURAL WONDER
OF TWENTIETH CENTURY
There are 80 many values in alfalfa
that II ia simply surprising our farm
crs have waited so long watchine
others using Il without putting in al
faifa hay for Themselves. Alfalfa on
riches the ground. drawing into the
soil nitrogen from the air while grow
ing Alfalfa is the best soil doctor
II adds humus TO the soil. increases
the fow of milk In COWS; X is ths
greatest OF all subscribers: IT has no
equal as hog pasture: II does things
and never loafs on the job.
1T should he kept in mind. TOO. that
alfalfa is not only the best feed fol-
beef cattle. but the cheapest: II con.
clover or corn. and 1t insures a larger
Yield for the crops that follow Al
falfa yields from Two 10 three times as
much as clover or timothy. and is a
more valuable hay. In brief. alfalfa
Is the agricultural wonder OF the
The commissioner said he was par
t!cularly gratined by the widespread
interest evinced by the farmers of Nir-
ginia this year in alfalfa growing. be
cause II inevitably tended to promote
stock raising in the State. Il am In
formed he said. that James Bell
wood. who put 100 acres OF his Ches-
terfield lands in alfalfa last year. es-
Inmates the value he received out OF
that alfalfa acreage at $4,000.
Since the larger farmers have had
their eyes opened TO the value 'of tn,
hay. some have emulated the exampl,
OF Mr.. Redwood and put 100 acres ir
alfalfa One farmer has 500 acres Of
alfalfa. and many OF the smaller farm.
ers have 10 acres this year.
Commissioner Koiner has prepared =
special bulletin treating OF alfalfs
growing, which may be had free or
application to the Commissioner al
Agriculture.
Discussing experiments made. III.
commissioner directed attention TO 2
record that was kept OF four acres for
I'VE yeare The average yield was
found 10 be four and eight -tenths tons
per acre, field weight. The loves,
yield during the term was 22S ton.
and the highest 1.s2 tons. This latter
WELD was made in four cuttings A
total Of ninety-siX tons OF hay wa.
produced on the four acres in Ave
Years. The price of alfalfa during
that period ranged from $3.50 to 50.
n ton