11 



PRICES AND PROFITS. 



Those Alabama alfalfa growers who have sold alfalfa re- 

 port that the price in recent years has been not less than 

 |13 to ^15 per ton. Even if we assume a minimum yield 

 of 4 tons of hay per acre on land to which alfalfa is 

 adapted, and a minimum price of |10 per ton, there 

 would still be larger profits in growing" alfalfa than most 

 other field crops. Captain John C. Webb, of Demoi>olis, 

 Ala., writes : "It has paid me better than any other crop 

 I ever planted." 



Mr. W. L. Foster is reported in Louisiana Bulletin 

 No. 72 as follows in regard to alfalfa in the bottoms 

 of the Red Itiver, near Shreveport : "It costs an aver- 

 age of 11.25 to 12.00 per ton to put [alfalfa hay] in shape 

 for the market." 



The books of another alfalfa grower in the same re- 

 gion showed a cost of |d.90 per ton to cut, cure, market, 

 and bale a crop of this hay. 



The same publication contains this significant para- 

 graph as to the profits of alfalfa in that region : 



">Mien the land is seeded to alfalfa by the owner and 

 rented out, he gets fifteen dollars an acre, and the 

 renter furnishes his o-vvn harvesting tools, or he gets 

 eighteen dollars rent and furnishes the harvesting tools. 

 This is on land that rents for five dollars an acre for 

 cotton." 



SOILS FOR ALFALFA. 



At present the most important question in connection 

 with alfalfa in Alabama is the determination of soils on 

 which it can be made a profitable crop. In determining 

 the best soils for alfalfa we shall be helped by bearing in 

 mind that this plant needs a soil (1) well supplied with 

 moisture, (2) well drained, (3) having an abundance of 

 lime, (4) rich in other plant food. 



