328 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOaRJ^AL. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Alfalfa— California Honey-Plant. 



W. A. TKYAL. 



On page 51, reference is made to 

 the above plant, and classes it. ac- 

 cording to Landretlt's Rural Beytster. 

 as Medkago sadva. The illustration 

 given heretofore was on such a small 

 scale that but an imperfect idea could 

 be formed of the flower. The slietch 

 of this plant herewith shown was 

 made in California from a natural 

 flower, and can be relied upon as 

 beina; a good illustration of the flower 

 as it blooms in that State, and where 

 it is a boon to the bees during a '• dry 

 year." 



It is now many, years since alfalfa 

 was lirst introduced into the Paciflc 

 States, from Chili, where it has been 

 cultivated for years. Thousand of acres 

 of it are grown in the valleys of the 

 Golden State, most of which is irri- 

 gated by artiflcial means, thus en- 

 abling the owners to cut as much as 

 four or more good crops a year. The 

 hay is considered very valuable for 

 cattle and sheep. A considerable 

 qnantity of it is used at the cattle 

 yards to feed the stock preparatory to 

 killing. Swine, horses and sheep are 

 also fond of it. Where the last crop 

 is alliiwed to seed, the bees fairly liold 

 a jubilee in the fields of blue flowers 

 of this alfalfa. AVe have heard that 

 in the lower central counties of Cali- 

 fornia, where are to be found large 

 tracts of it, the bee-keepers who have 

 their bee-ranches located away up in 

 the mountains, remove their colonies 

 to the alfalfa regions. We have a 

 case in mind where large yields were 

 reported in the fall months from this 

 source, but cannot now refer to the 

 item. We should have been pleased 

 to have quoted from this particular 

 report, as it was remarkable, and 

 ■would serve as an example of many 

 more. 



To show tlie readers of the Bee 

 Journal, who may be interested in 

 this plant as pasturage for stock, we 

 annex the following items : 



Major Ketchum, of .Stockton, Calif., 

 stated to a representative of the 

 Pacific Jiural Press, in the fall of 

 18S.3, that he had about 20 acres of 

 alfalfa on unirrigaled land in San 

 Joaquin county. lie had kept on this 

 alfalfa, which was sowed about 

 March, 1S7S, from 7-5 to 100 head of 

 hogs, 40 head of horned stock, and 

 about 'SO head of horses. The stock 

 are turned into the field after the 

 alfalfa has got a good start, and the 

 field furnishes good feed until the 

 grain [wheat in adjoining fields.— Kd.] 

 IS cut— say the last of July or the first 

 of August. " 1 find," said the Major, 

 " no difliculty in getting a good stand, 

 unless the spring is wet." 



The next is that of an alfalfa farm 

 run for the hay that can be cut for 

 market purposes, and is the kind that 

 gives the apiarist who chances to live 

 nigh, a buoyant heart. It is situated 

 in Bear River A'alley, Yuba county, 

 and consists ot ItO acres, which was 

 seeded five years ago. It is cut four 

 times a year, and averages a little 

 over 7 tons ot cured hay to the acre. 



The hay is baled and sent to the 

 mountains, and brings, when baled, 

 $10 a ton. It nets about $7. .50 per 

 ton. This is something over $50 per 

 acre for hay. In addition to this the 

 owner estimates that the land yields 

 him $0 per acre for spring and fall 



occupied in plowing and seeding, and 

 the fall in harvesting ; and after 

 months of lobor and expense the toil- 

 worn farmer finds that the bottom 

 has fallen out of the wheat market. 

 jSot so with alfalfa; stock has to be 

 raised to feed the people of the Pacific 



pasturage, making the total receipts 

 of the whole crop, in the neighljor- 

 liood of $.56 per acre, or an income of 

 about $8,000. The land is not irri- 

 gated nor fertilized. This sort of 

 farming pays better than wheat- 

 growing, where the whole winter is 



Coast, wlio are multiplying fast ; the 

 price of meat is going up rapidly, and 

 the cattle-raiser is the coming mil- 

 lionaire. We say, " Go W'est young 

 man " and raise alfalfa, cattle and 

 honey, and be happy. 

 North Temescal.Kj Calif. 



