Yol. LXYIII. 
Published Weekly by The Rural Publishing Co.. 
333 W. 30th St., New York. Price One Dollar a rear. 
NEW YORK, JANUARY 11, 1910. 
Entered as Second-Class Matter, June 26, 1879, at the Post 
Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 187J. 
No. 4510 
New York Alfalfa Belt 
Growth and Development of a Famous Crop 
Part I. 
P ERSONAL INVESTIGATIONS.—In 1909 the 
writer investigated the methods by which Al¬ 
falfa was grown and disposed of in the annexed dis¬ 
trict of Syracuse, which contained considerable farm 
land, and in several of the surrounding towns. A 
large number of fields were examined and many of 
the leading growers of Alfalfa were interviewed. The 
farms that were visited Alfalfa has been grown for a 
long time. In several instances it has been from 20 
to 30 years, and in one for about 40 years. The 
areas vary with the size of the farm and the special 
line of farming. In some cases they comprise all the 
grass land of the farms. Some of the larger growers 
cut from SO to about 150 acres. There is a tendency 
to increase rather than diminish the area. It was 
S ad to miss Hamlet Worker, who departed this life 
August 16, 1918. He was a pioneer in the cultiva¬ 
tion of Alfalfa, and did more than any other man 
can be readily formed. The ground is also pretty 
free from foul plants. This is an important item. 
For, as one grower remarked. “Ye cant get weeds 
and Alfalfa together.” Alfalfa is usually sown with 
grain. In this way a crop is obtained the first year, 
which is not the case when Alfalfa is sov n bj itself. 
The grain protects the Alfalfa plants, which aie not 
\ ery hardy when they are young, from the scorching 
sun. and keeps down weeds which would come if 
there were no strong-growing crop to check them. 
Barley is probably the best grain with which to sow 
Fun in 
an Alfalfa Field in the “Good Old Summer Time ” Fig. 8 
results of this investigation, and of similar ones in 
1911 and 1914, were reported in The R. N.-Y. In 
the Fall of 191S much of the ground has been gone 
over again, and several other localities have been 
visited. As more Alfalfa is grown in Onondaga 
County than in any other county east of the Missis¬ 
sippi River, and as notes were taken in localities in 
which the crop is seen at its best, it is reasonable to 
suppose that the methods followed have been wisely 
chosen, and that, with such minor changes as differ¬ 
ences in soil, climate, and local conditions would sug¬ 
gest, they may be profitably adopted elsewhere. 
3 PROLONGED EXPERIENCE—On most of the 
to bring this crop to the attention of farmers in this 
section. He was also an expert corn grower and 
breeder, was very successful with fruits and flowers, 
end was prominent in the Grange. He was a wise 
leader and a good friend. His son, R. C. Worker, 
who was associated with him. remains on the farm. 
SEEDING.—Nearly all of the seeding is done in 
the Spring. A very few growers think late Summer 
or Fall sowing might do well, and one prefers Au¬ 
gust if the Alfalfa is to he sown alone. Alfalfa al¬ 
most universally follows corn or potatoes. After 
either of these crops the land can be worked easily 
and a good seed bed, which is of vital importance, 
Alfalfa, but its use is not nearly as general as oats. 
Wheat is used to some extent, but this is partly to 
help supply the Government demand. Whatever 
grain is used, the seeding is light. In addition to 
grain most growers sow Timothy with Alfalfa. This 
because if the Alfalfa seeding is not fully successful 
something in the way of a hay crop is likely to he 
tbtained. Then, too, the Timothy helps fill the spaces 
between the small Alfalfa plants; it aids greatlj in 
curing the first cutting of the season, and it is be¬ 
lieved to make better feed for horses than Alfalfa 
alone. The later cuttings are more desirable for 
cows and young cattle. 
