The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1915-02-06
ALFALFA ! |. "a FIELDS
GREAT ASSET IN ND,
sUPT. L. R. wALDRON's ADDRESS
AT TRI-STATE GRAIN GROW
ERS's CONVENTION AT
FARGO, JAN. 20.
Eventually This State Will Have A
Million Acres in Alfalfa Crop.
Perhaps More.

When Superintendent L. R. Wald-
ron talks alfalfa, it is well for all to
pay. strict attention, because no man
has studied the growing of alfalfa in
North Dakota in more practical and
scientific way than this energetic and
hard working North Dakotan. And as
there has been so much alfalfa talk
during the past few years, it is no
wonder that the great gathering at
Fargo awaited Mr.. Waldron's address
with much interest. ..-.
superintendent Waldron is an al.
falfa enthusiast, but his enthusiasm
comes from knowledge, and his knowl-
edge is based on practical experience
and scientific study. The facts and
conclusions presented in his address
at Fargo should be carefully consid-
cred by all interested in the welfare
of this great northwest.-Th Dakota
Farmer.
Mr.. Waldron spoke as follows:
We are only beginning to give seri-
GUS thought to corn, as a crop, in
North Dakota; and even at that corn
has great lead over alfalfa, though
no doubt this lead will always be a
substantial one. We have not yet ad-
vanced far enough to know the poten-
tial economics of alfalfa production,
and our Ignorance on this point is in
itself bar to the more rapid develop
ment of the crop. Until the farmers
are assured that alfalfa has a money
acreage value equal at least to that
Of wheat, we may be sure that not
much alfalfa will be sown. The con-
ditions in North Dakota are quite diff
ferent from those where alfalfa has
been SO pronounced success that it
has required hardy prophet who has
had the temerity to say that alfalfa
would become staple crop in North
Dakota. Our new and pioneer con-
dition is the outstanding reason why
the alfalfa industry is such an infant
one in North Dakota at the present
time.
With such conditions, it is well for
us to cast about occasionally and de-
termine as we may the success or
failure which attends the growing of
alfalfa in North Dakota. To this end
a list of questions was sent out to
few alfalfa growers, dealing largely
with the profits of alfalfa in compari-
son with those from wheat. 1t surely
would have been better to have Sc
cured a large number of answers, but
although the answers are compare
lively few, their tendency is entirely
in one direction-and so the proba-
bility of. the answers expressing the
true condition of things is much
greater than if only, majority gave
answers favoring one side or the
other. ,$t$f I-- ~
The results are certainly Of interest
and indeed it would be well worth
while to make rather careful study
of alfalfa yields and values in North
Dakota. Such information, if prop
erly presented, would much encourage
those naturally timid about alfalfa
culture. -.
The first lot of questions dealt with
hay production, and we will study
some of the individual replies. Note
that at least half of the answers are
from west of the Missouri river,
where" the farming conditions of the
state are considered most severe.
Summary of Replies
First testifes S. D. Gregg of Glad
stone, who cut 2 acres of alfalfa ex-
clusively for hay in 1914. 1t is on
bottom land and his 8 cuttings yielded
AZ tons per acre. He values the hay
at $40 per ton, and says the alfalfa
netted him $37 per acre, while his
wheat netted $16-leaving an alfalfa
balance of $21 per acre. Five per
cent of the neighboring land is as
well suited to- alfalfa as his acres.
Geo. Kline Of Mott, cut acres Of
alfalfa which produced 3% tons OF
hay per acre. He values his hay at
S12 per ton, and his land netted him
$3.50 per acre. Similar wheat land
netted him SO per acre, leaving a bal
ance in favor Of alfalfa of $26.50 per
acre. He states that so per cent Of
the land in his district can grow al
falfa as well. His alfalfa is used in
feeding to good Jersey cows. These
alfalfa yields are high, but note the
wheat returns are good too,
d. j. Steiner Of Beach cut acres
Of alfalfa which yielded ! ton Of hay
per acre. This was valued by him at
$40 per ton. His alfalfa netted him
So per acre, which was $4 per acre
more than he secured from his wheat
crop. These poor results were due
to an unfavorable season and are not
the rule. He states that 100 per cent
of the surrounding land is adapted to
alfalfa. !. q !. .ts3. s.:s5. ].
Geo. Metcalf Of Manning cut "a
acres Of alfalfa and the 8 cuttings
welded TX tons per acre. He values
this hay at $3.50 per ton, and the
tract netted him SAL per acre. and IN
comparison with his wheat at So per
acre, We find a balance in favor OF
the alfalfa Of $33 per acre: In that
neighborhood Is per cent Of the land
can grow alfalfa as well as did the
# al acres. He feeds the alfalfa TO
Continued on page g.