East Oregonian : E.O

RAISE ALFALFA IN KANSAS

THREE CROPS A YEAR IN WESTERN COUNTIES

I. N. Poulton, Practical Farmer from "Sunflower" State, Declares Dry Land Alfalfa a Success There and May Be Raised in Eastern Oregon With Profit

That dry land alfalfa is being grown with great success in western Kansas, where the conditions as to soil and rainfall are much the same as in eastern Oregon is stated by I. N. Poulton, a practical farmer from near Medora, who is now here visiting relatives.

According to Mr. Poulton the farmers of the western part of his state first believed it impossible to raise alfalfa. But by the continuous raising of the crop and the adoption of the Campbell system of dry farming, which is merely the thorough cultivation of the soil so as to conserve the moisture, they have made alfalfa growing one of the country's principal resources.

The alfalfa raised in the dry land counties is a hardy variety that has been gradually acclimated. The farmers thresh enough to furnish their own seed. In most places three crops are raised each season and according to Mr. Poulton four bushels per acre per season is about an average yield. He says $7 a ton in the stack is an average price for alfalfa and therefore farmers may realize $28 an acre per annum from the raising of alfalfa upon dry land.

The principal dry farming counties of Kansas are Phillips, Smith, Buell Ford, Ness, Hodgman, Hamilton and Finney. In the central part of the state the rainfall is heavier than in the western portion and so a different grade of agriculture prevails.

Upon Mr. Poulton's own place, near Medora, he cannot raise alfalfa, owing to the fact that the moisture comes so near the surface that the long alfalfa roots become "drowned."

In the western counties where the dry land alfalfa is grown so extensively the farms range in size from 80 acres to a section. However, the 640 acre farms are scarce and the average ranch contains but 160 acres. Ranches of that size prove profitable under the farming methods that are followed.

May Raise It Here.

In the estimation of Mr. Poulton this section of eastern Oregon is very similar to western Kansas and he believes that dry land alfalfa may be raised with entire success in Umatilla county. The rainfall of western Kansas is very similar to that for this county.