Yol. LXXIII, No. 4257. 
NEW YORK. MAY .°,0. 1014. 
WEEKLY $1.00 PER YEAR. 
THE ARGUMENT FOR ALFALFA AS A NEW 
YORK STATE CROP. 
A N INCREASING CROP.—The first introduc¬ 
tion of Alfalfa into the United States was in 
New York State about the year 1812. but for 
about ninety years it was little cultivated here. The 
seed brought from ('bile to Southern California 
about 1S54 is the source from which most of the Al¬ 
falfa grown in the State today has been derived. 
Some of the States in the West annually produce 
from one to over two million acres. In New York 
State in 1899, only 5.582 acres of Alfalfa were re¬ 
ported. averaging 2.33 tons per acre. In the next 
decade, the thirteenth census shows a marked in¬ 
crease, 35,353 acres, averaging 2.40 tons per acre. 
falfa. soil fertility is being considered more import¬ 
ant than soil structure. With proper management 
a soil of good fertility and unfavorable soil struc¬ 
ture. such as a very heavy clay subsoil, will give 
much better results than a soil of low fertility and 
good structure. In New York, the real reason for 
the failure of Alfalfa has more likely been poor 
fertility than unfavorable physical conditions of the 
soil. The needs for sufficient lime and inoculation, 
and a well-prepared seed bed are being recognized, 
and the Alfalfa failures are becoming less. In a 
series of cooperative experiments with about 200 
farmers carried on by the Geneva Experiment Sta¬ 
tion a few years ago. the results showed that where 
the soil was untreated only 20 per cent, of the Al¬ 
falfa seedings were successful; where lime was ap- 
by the value per acre. The value of Alfalfa per acre 
is more than double the value of either clover or 
Timothy. With large yields, which may be expected, 
when more is known about the different factors af¬ 
fecting its successful culture, we should expect this 
value per acre to be higher than it is at present. 
TABLE 1. 
Market Values ( 13th Census Retort, 1909.) 
CROP Yield per acre Price per ton Value per Acre 
Alfalfa . 2.4G tons $13.58 $33.41 
Clover . 1.32 “ 12.31 16.25 
Timothy . 1.07 “ 14.02 15.64 
Table 2 gives a comparison of the feeding values 
of these same hays. The feeding value per ton is 
taken from Farmers’ Bulletin 339, U. 8. Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture, based on the value of the vari¬ 
ous digestible nutrients found in each. It will be 
MEETING OF THE BLUE AND THE GRAY AT HEADQUARTERS. Fig. 305. 
plied to the soil, 40 per cent, were successful: where 
“DECORATION DAY.” A 
The growing interest in. and importance of the crop 
in the West, has undoubtedly affected the increased 
interest in the crop in New York, and with this in¬ 
creased interest has come a greater appreciation of 
its value, and a more general knowledge of the prin¬ 
ciples involved in growing it successfully. In spite 
of handicaps. Alfalfa culture is steadily gaining in 
the State. Unfavorable climatic conditions, es¬ 
pecially the hard Winter, the high relative humidity, 
the low fertility of the soil, especially the low lime 
content, our lack of knowledge regarding inoculation 
and consequent failures have tended to retard its 
culture. Coupled with these factors, is the competi¬ 
tion with Timothy and clover, so well suited to New 
York conditions, which it had to meet. Still an¬ 
other factor has been the conservatism of the East¬ 
ern farmers. 
SOIL AND PREPARATION.—With the introduc¬ 
tion and propagation of the hardier forms of Al- 
inoculation without lime was tried 60 per cent, of 
the experiments were successful, and where both 
lime and inoculation were used. SO per cent, were 
successful. Only 20 per cent, were failures. This 
shows clearly the general need both for lime and in¬ 
oculation throughout the State. 
CROP VALUES.—Table 1 gives a comparison of 
the market values of Alfalfa, clover and Timothy, 
based on data secured from the last census report. 
It should be noted first that the yield per acre is 
more than twice that of Timothy and almost twice 
as great as the yield of clover. The price per ton 
was greater than for clover but less than for Tim¬ 
othy. With a wider recognition of the general su¬ 
periority of Alfalfa hay, and a continued increase in 
demand, it may be expected that Alfalfa will soon 
rank first, and supersede Timothy. The surprising 
difference in value between the three crops is shown 
seen that Alfalfa has a feeding value per acre almost 
five times as great as that of Timothy and over two 
and one half times as great as that of clover. 
TABLE 2. 
Feeding Values Of Alfalfa And Other IIays. 
CROP Value per ton Yield per acre Value per acre 
Alfalfa . $20.16 2.46 tons $49.57 
Clover . 14.12 1.32 “ 1S.64 
Timothy . 9.80 1.07 “ 10.49 
VALUE IN RATION.—In comparing the value of 
Alfalfa with bran and Timothy for feeding dairy cows, 
the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station found 
(Bulletin 146) that a ration containing eight pounds 
of Alfalfa hay proves to be equal to the suite ra¬ 
tion when bran is substituted for the Alfalfa: also 
that a ration containing 10 pounds of Alfalfa hay 
produces 17 per cent, more milk than the same ra¬ 
tion when Timothy is substituted for the Alfalfa. 
ALFALFA AND SOIL FERTILITY.—Another im¬ 
portant consideration is the effect of Alfalfa in 
