Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1914 — LETTERS FROM OUR READERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

Alfalfa on the Iroquois Farm. How has your alfalfa done this year? This was the question as put by the editor a short time ago. Our this year’s seeding was lost by the long drouth. Our previous seeding, which is now three years old, made its largest yield this season regardless of drouth. In the early spring it was given an application of 250 pounds of 16 per cent phosphoric acid at a cost of $2.25 per acre. It was also given a two-way cultivation after the second cutting with an ‘‘Eagle Claw” cultivator. A part of the crop has been weighed and we have been able to estimate the yield as a little o-'er five tons of cured hay per acre. Its drought-resisting qualities are remarkable. The last two cuttings made half this yield without rain worth mentioning. If cut at the right time, which is indicated by new sprouts from the root one or two inches high, it will always make three cuttings here; and if two years old it may be pastured after that and is especially fine for pigs, but not at all safe for cattle, sheep or horse, regardless of its reputation in the more arid west for these animals. If cut too late or pastured, too close it may be greatly weakened and lifted out by the frost the following winter. A comparison of the feeding value of five tons of alfalfa with its equivalent in some of our standard crops will more forcibly show its great value. Thus five tons of alfalfa equals 300 bushels of oats, when oats are worth 42 bents as at present, alfalfa is worth $25.00 per ton. It takes 178 bushels and 30 pounds of corn to equal the feeding value of five tons alfalfa, and if 1-3 the feeding value of the corn crop is in the stalk and it were all saved as by the silo, it would yet require 135 bushels and 12 pounds and the stalk it grew on to equal five tons of alfalfa. At the present price of corn its equivalent to a ton of alfalfa costs $25.10; Wheat bran, $27.20. The market value may vary up and down, but their feeding for live stock will always remain the same. Its heavy

yields, right feeding value; its ability to increase the crops to follow it, and the fact that when feed with corn they make very nearly a complete balanced ration for all farm animals, are some of the reasons why we believe it will find great favor in this county.—W. H. P.