CLOVER CULTURE. 



(been largely increased. At present the increase in demand is equal to 

 the increa c e in production. 



As regards its nutritive qualities there are but few other plants that 

 can compare with alfafa. Red clover is the best known and most uni- 

 versal leguminous crop. For the sake of comparison I quote the follow- 

 ing analyses of the two from Wolf's tables. The figures refer to the 

 digestible nutrients in each case: 



It will be here seen that alfalfa, either as hay or green, contains more 

 of the most valuable nutrient (protein) than red clover, and the nutri- 

 tive ratio indicates that it is nearly as narrow. The figures speak for 

 themselves. Further argument on that point is unnecessary.* 



What place, then, can alfalfa take in western farming? It is grown 

 with excellent success on the bottom lands and under irrigation. It can 

 be grown, and is grown, with comparative success on the uplands. But 

 this is not all. As a fertilizing agent of the soil it is fully equal, if not 

 superior, to red clover. It is a nitrogen gatherer of the first magnitude, 

 and its habit of growth renders it peculiarly efficient as a renovator and 

 enricher of the soil. The long roots draw up ash elements from depths 

 where no other crops could feed, and store them until, by their decay, 

 they again give them up to succeeding crops. By their penetration into 

 the subsoil it is on their decay rendered more porous; it is aereated more 

 perfectly than by other crops; the water will drain through the soil bet- 

 ter for the openings they leave and thus store more water beiow which 

 can again be raised more easily through the capillaries they have formed. 

 These are all beneficial features. 



Alfalfa, however, has some drawbacks. Owing to the fact that it takes 

 so long to develop its full powers it can never take the place in a short ro- 

 tation that clover occupies farther east. For that purpose we must look 

 to some other leguminous crop which can thrive in that region, and it 

 seems probable that the soy bean will meet the want. But alfalfa can be 

 used in a longer rotation. If it is allowed to stand five years and then 

 plowed under, it will have served for pasture or meadow at least three or 

 four years and at the same time will have developed a large root growth 

 for the benefit of the soil. Many would hesitate to break up a good alfalfa 

 field, but by breaking up a portion and seeding an equal portion every 

 year the acreage could be maintained, and there would be no loss of feed. 

 I should consider this the afest practice. It will not do to allow the 

 soil to lose fertility. Our western farmers must resort to renovating 

 crops of some kind, and, used in this manner, alfalfa will answer the pur- 

 pose. Tf, in the course of a few years, farmers in the section of country 

 above described, find themselves tilling an exhausted soil in addition to 

 the precarious circumstances which now mark the situation, their lot will 



* It should be remembered, however, that it is customary to cut alfalfa when one- 

 fourth in bloom, while red clover is usually cut for hay after it is full bloom and one- 

 ithird or more of the heads have turned brown. It should also be remembered that the 

 relative supply of protein decreases rapidly ih all plants after blooming has commenced. 

 Unless these facts are borne in mind the above comparison is in danger of mislead- 

 ing. The Author. 



