The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1915-05-13
GOOD ADVICE FROM
A MAN WHO KNOWS
ALFALFA A SUCCESSFUL CROP
IN NORTH DAKOTA
H. ]. johnson Has Tried II and Writes
State Commissioner Of His
Success

letter received by Commissioner Flint
Of the department Of agriculture,
from H. ]. johnson, one of Dickey
county's leading men, is a splendid
argument from a thoroughly practical
man in favor of diversification in
farming the advantages of the live
stock industry of North Dakota. Read
it and be convinced that nowhere in
the Union can better opportunities be
found for the intelligent and willing
worker than within this state wherein
we live:
II have lived in North Dakota more
or less for the past 25 years; 20 or
rs years ago felt very much the
same as the majority of the farmers
in this section of the country. I
thought wheat was the only thing
there was any money in. changed
my mind few years later in regard
to this and commenced raising other
crops, such as barley, corn and Alfalfa,
and never sowed wheat except on
such lands that knew were capable
of producing good crop. commenced
q system of rotation and l found that
nearly every year had a good crop
of the different kinds of grain that
had in.
J II find that it pays to use the best
kind of seed. A few years ago pur-
chased a carload of seed oats, the
best l could buy, paying about IS
cents a bushel for them. The first
year l raised " bushels per acre by
machine measure, the next year 65
bushels per acre and the third year u
bushels per acre. The oats were
raised on the same kind of land and
prepared the same each year and
believe that if the seed could be
changed often the yields would be
much larger.
4 1.-THE last five or six years l have
been raising alfa,'a successfully.
have raised alta IL -. incculated roi
and have raised it on soil that was nc,
inoculated, and find that it grows
and does we'll in either instance.
have raised it with nurse crop and
without nurse crop, seeming y
equally successful.
81 now have about 65 acres of fine
alfalfa and expect to sow about sc
acres more this season. / find that il
is an excellent feed for hogs, horses
and cattle. l raised nearly five tons
Ito the acre) of alfalfa last season
in three cuttings and left very nice
stand to go into winter quarters.
trust that, within five years, every
farmer will have from 40 to 100 acres
of alfalfa on his farm.
"Just as soon as the farmer turns
his attention to the raising of alfalfa
good grade of hogs, cattle and
horses, using at all times a good full.
blood sire, and cuts his wheat acreage
down to 40 acres on quarter section
he will find that things are coming his
way. And to the farmer owning his
own land l wish to say this: In 8
number of places in South Dakota
land sold eight or ten years ago a,
from $50 to $50 per acre, and that
same land is now selling at from $1O(
to $3.50 per acre. l fully believe that
the man who will hold onto his land
for eight or ten years will see the
same thing happen here.
II was a great believer in North
Dakota and it's possibilities 25 years
ago when a great number were sell.
ing out and getting out of the coun.
try, and l believe now that the posi-.
biiities of North Dakota are create,
than any other state in the Union
My advice to the farmer would be tc
stick to his land. Plant some alfalfa
get good horses, a better grade OF
cattle and hogs, use better seed, anc
success will follow"