Imperial Valley press., 1929-10-25
BY b. s. CREIGHTON
assistant Farm Advisor, Imperial
CONntyl


Alfalfa hay production is and has
been the back bone Of agriculture in
Imperial county. From tho stand.
point of permanent agriculture and
soil fertility, alfalfa is the great
fenovator Of our rich soil though
somewhat poor in available nitrates
and organic matter. Soil which will
not grow alfalfa well is soil which
will be a doubtful producer when
planted to other crops.
Annually Imperial Valley ranchers
plow up about 10000 acres of old
alfalfa with about an equal acreage
iesceded, so that the hay output as
well as the dairy, beef cattle, and
sheep feed supplies remains some
what constant. Four years repre-
sents about the average life of an
alfalfa stand under general csndi-
tions.
Farmers in Imperial Valley are be.
coming very adept in the art of max
ing high quality hay. The quality
of this hay is recognized by all coast
feeders and the demand is becoming
greater as this hay finds new feeders.
In extra green. extra leafy hay, the
vitamin content is thought to be the
greatest obtainable in any hay due
TO the high percentage of sunlight
which this growing crop receives
while growing in Imperial Valley.
This fact makes for the best health
in the stock which eats the hay, be it
rabbits, hogs, poultry, sheep. cattle
or horses. 1t may be OF interest to
note that in hog feeding tests ra-
! tions composed of 80 per cent chop
ped. alfalfa have given good results
with very low feed costs. An too
few ranchers appreciate the high
feeding value which alfalfa has. 1t
anaiyzes III per cent moisture, TO- /
per cent digcstible protein, 3s.2 per
cent digestible carbohydrates and
has the very narrow nutritivc ratio
of l to 3.9. Work horses and mules
are maintained in excellent working
condition the year round on little
else but alfalfa hay.
Since the leaves of the plant
carry about 80 per cent of the total
food value, the fact that they must
be conserved in the hay is generally
appreciated by all the hay producers
This has led TO the more skillful
handling Of the hay, which begins
with cutting it at the right stage.
putting 1t into windrows or shocks
20 cure before the leaves have dried
10 crisp and-fal!en. from the stem,
thus removing the natural outlet for
the moisture which is in the stems
By allowing the moisture to be
pumped out by the leaves Which re-
main attached, they in turn cure aud
retain more color than is possible
when left exposed TO dry and par.
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Each town is 10 present q IIallow.
Zen Number for Tho program and
an enjoyable afternoon is antici
.poted.
Miss Rcgipia O'Malia, former val.
ley resident and teacher in the local
SCHOOLS, will spcrd the week end
with her sister, Ms. J. Il. McNcccc,
at the McNeecc home on Wcnslcy
avenue. Miss O'Malia is at present
teaching in Allambra, and her many
friends in the yallcy will be delight.
ed at this opportunity Of seeing her
again.
The Presbytcrion Guild will meet
Tuesday at O'Clock at the church.
Luncheon will be served 4he mem.
bers at this time and business
meeting will follow. Mrs. ". j.
Clements, president of the guild,
will be. the hostess, with Mesdamcs
L. J.. Martin, Forrest kutz and
Vaughn Thompson as co hostesses.
MIR. and Mrs. Roger Goodan of
Los Angeles and daughter, Ruth
will be the week cnd guests Of the
Henry l.. Lohds -: their home ON
Sandalwood avenue.
DR.. and Mrs. W. w. Apple enter
taihed Mrs. Georgt j. Phelps, house
guest Of Mrs. Howard p. Meyer, at
diner last night at their home on
Olive avenue, MIR and Mrs. w. l..
Apple being other guests.
Members Of the committee in
charge of the rupimagc sale to be
held by the guild and missionary
society Of the Presbyterian church
are meeting this afternoon at the
A.. l.. Lackey homie on Orange aven-
ne TO make plans for tic salc which