(Eugene Ashcraft in Monroe Enquirer)
“It’s the alfalfa of the South,” said County Agent T.J.W. Broom to a group of interested farmers one day last week.
I did not stop to ask what he was talking about for I knew Mr. Broom meant lespedeza, or Japanese clover. But I did ask Mr. Broom to come to the Enquirer office and tell me about it—might want to farm a little myself some time. Presently in he came, enthusiastic as I always want to see a man. He began with no preliminaries:
“Some eight or 10 years ago our farmers found Japan clover so common the poor land, ditch banks, and fence corners that little regard was paid to it. True, it did make good pasturage, but no car or attentinw as given the hardy little plant. But of course lespedeza thrives best when cultivated.”
“Does it make good hay?” I inquired.
“I know one man who got two and a half tons at one cutting off an acre. And the beauty of lespedeza hay is that it cures so readily and keeps fresh and good. All stock thrives on it.”
“Well, why don’t more farmers raise it?” as I was becoming interested.
“Raise it? Why man, there’s at least 2,500 to 3,000 acres of lespedeza sod right now in Union county,a and this winter—January and February—there perhaps will be twice that acreage sown.”
“But maybe it’ll be so wet those months the farmers can’t prepare their land,” I objected.
“Ashcraft, you’re so ignorant you’d perish plum to death farmin’,” said Tom. “Why, all you gotta do (he was getting excited) is to go into the wheat or oat field and sow it on top of the ground—no plowin’ nor harrowin’ nor nothin’. In the spring you’ll have a cover crop that’ll be worth a broadcasting of stable manure.”
“That’s all right Tom, but do you know a little farm handy? I want to sow some lespedeza seed,” for I, too, was gettin’ excited.
“As I was sayin’,” said the County Agent, not hearing me, “for pasture lespedeza has no equal. Why7, right here in Union county on some of the best sod, farmers have told me one acre will support a cow which produces perhaps $25 worth of milk during the summer.”
“Why don’t everybody sow lespedeza?”
“They are going to. I forgot to tell you that a number of farmers in the county right now are harvesting their lespedeza seed. Some will realize as much as $20 to $40 per acre from seed alone. They will be enabled to sell them to others.”
“Well, looks like we must do something—boll weevil and everything,” said Old-Scared-of-His-Shadow.
“Get it out of your system,” said Optimist Broom. “Lespedeza sod is bale to the acre cotton land. Good-bye commercial fertilizer. Maybe you don’t know your Union county, Ashecraft? The farmers make good—have made good.”
I still love a man who is enthusiastic and on the job. He does things. But Broom wouldn’t promise to find me that little farm, cheap place, you know, near town—with plenty good buildings—and everything.
From page 3 of The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Monday morning, Dec. 11, 1922
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