GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan. 1. 



is to remain in full growth; but alfalfa differs 

 in the two essential features of lasting for ever, 

 and having a very long thick tap-root that pen- 

 etrates far in search of moisture. Now, re- 

 member that there is a vast territory within 

 the mountains, and east of them, that is sub- 

 ject to drouth because the mountains "catch 

 the moisture "in the high altitudes, and you 

 will see the necessity of a plant that can stand 

 extremes of heat and drouth. Here let me 

 quote from a report of the Kansas State Board 

 of Agriculture as I find it in the Denver Times 

 Year Book and Almanac for 1896, page 226: 



" Alfalfa is one of the very ancient forage- 

 plants, having been cultivated by Greeks, Ro- 

 mans, and Egyptians in very early times." 

 [Note that irrigation has been practiced in 

 Egypt for ages, being in vogue at the time of 

 Israel's sojourn there]. " In later periods, and 

 especially within the present century, it has 

 been grown by nations in the warmer parts of 

 Europe. It has been known in South America 

 for a long time, and has been cultivated by the 

 people in the arid regions along the west coast. 

 From this region it was carried to Mexico and 

 California, where it has proved a veritable 

 Godsend. Its especial quality is that it can 

 stand a prolonged heat and drouth." 



"Inger-oll, of the Nebraska Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station, says, ' There is not a crop 

 raised as a farm crop that will pay' better re- 

 turns in cash per acre. Alfalfa, with corn, 

 should be the watchword hereafter in Nebras- 

 ka.' Alfalfa is a rather slender - growing, 

 branching plant, with leaves much smaller 

 than those of the small June and mammoth 

 red clovers. It is of a peculiar dark, rich green 

 color, aud is a marked feature of any landscape 

 where one can obtain an extended view. Like 

 other plants of this class, it has a single 

 strong tap-root, which throws off numerous 

 small branches as it passes downward. It goes 

 to a great depth in search of moisture. Roots 

 have been known to penetrate to a depth of 

 over twenty feet in an open, porous soil. On 

 account of the size and toughness of the root it 

 is not easily broken. For this reason, land se- 

 lected for alfalfa should be devoted to that crop 

 for a series of years. When broken up, how- 

 ever, the soil is in most excellent condition for 

 wheat, potatoes, or almost any crop. Alfalfa 

 is a nitrogen-producer, and hence improves the 

 land on which it is grown. All clovers, and 

 especially alfalfa, are valuable for the express 

 purpose of renewing the fertility of the soil." 



" An Ohio alfalfa-grower, after ten years' ex- 

 perience, says that the land should be copiously 

 irrigated before sowing the seed. This insures 

 prompt and complete germination. This is a 

 point of vital importance, for without a dense 

 and uniform stand of plants it is not possible to 

 make a high quality of alfalfa hay. Another 

 advantage secured by irrigation before seeding 



is that it supplies the earth with a reservoir of 

 moisture sufficient to sustain the plants in un- 

 checked and vigorous growth until they are 

 strong enough to bear irrigation without injury. 

 The critical time with alfalfa is the first six 

 weeks of its growth. By soaking the earth be- 

 fore seeding, the plants make vigorous growth 

 until they are ten or twelve inches high, after 

 which they may be irrigated with safety." 



" Alfalfa is not safe, as pasture, for either 

 cattle or sheep. This matter has been thor- 

 oughly tested until it is admitted that the only 

 safe way is to keep herds out of alfalfa-fields 

 entirely. It is true, however, that both cattle 

 and sheep will sometimes feed on alfalfa pasture 

 for days without ill results. But sooner or 

 later trouble arises. Under certain conditions 

 sheep become inflated like balloons, and die 

 suddenly from eating moist alfalfa. The same 

 Ohio farmer says that horses and swine can 

 be pastured on alfalfa with entire safety, and 

 with profitable results." 



It appears, then, that alfalfa is almost a 

 necessity in this arid or semi arid country, be- 

 cause it is the only forage-plant that can cope 

 with and endure the adverse conditions of cli- 

 mate. It is a splendid crop for hay, both to 

 fatten and to produce milk. For horses that 

 are laboring it is a little too " washy," so that 

 intended for horse hay is allowed to mature 

 and become rather woody, being cut at about 

 full bloom; but if wanted for cow feed it is cut 

 before blooming or just as it has fairly begun 

 to bloom. It is rather heavy in growth, being 

 between red and sweet clovers, so if allowed to 

 reach a mature state the stems become quite 

 woody. Horses will eat the woody stems quite 

 freely, but not so freely as mules; but cows will 

 not eat the hard stems unless driven by hunger, 

 so for cow feed it becomes necessary to cut early. 

 For a rather soft fat, and for milk and butter, 

 alfalfa hay is a very fine seed; but to pasture 

 cattle and sheep it seems to be a failure be- 

 cause of bloating. It is very ris/cj/ to turn cat- 

 tle upon alfalfa. 



Now as to the extent to which this plant is 

 cultivated. Observe that there is a vast territo- 

 ry between the mountains and the Missouri 

 River. It is out of the question to think of 

 growing alfalfa or any thing else near the 

 mountains except on the bottom lands, and lit- 

 tle there unless irrigated. I have been told that 

 there is Quite a little grown in the vicinity of 

 Garden City, Kansas, without irrigation; but 

 it is on bottom land that is all underlaid with 

 water but a few feet below the surface. 



The rainfall increases as we get away from 

 the mountains, being more or less in certain 

 districts, owing to height and extent of moun- 

 tains and distance north or south, until there is 

 sufficient to produce crops with the rainfall 

 alone. East Colorado and West Kansas and 

 Nebraska, to near the center of these States, 



