The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-01-26
1. D. O'DONNELL TELLS THEM TO
HoRTIcuLTURIsTs.
BUILDS CITIES AND TOWNS
Its Production Benefits Every Busi-
ness, Creates PayroIls, Makes
Money for All.

While, like almost every farmer in
this part of the Yellowstone, valley,
1. d. O'Donnell has a number OF
fruit trees and pays some attention
to horticulture as an incident to farm
ing, the production Of alfalfa and it's
conversion into beef, mutton and pork
is the industry that receives the clos
est application of his mind and the
subject of his greatest study. In fact, :
Mr.. O'Donnell is known as CRANK
on alfalfa" q designation he does not
resent, for no one knows better the
value of alfalfa and its possibilities
when correctly applied, in the estab7
lishment of communities and its conz}
.tribution to their maintenance. HeI
is familiar with the question in all
it's details and never Overlooks an op-
portunity to speak a good word for
his favorite fodder. Thus, he spoke
of alfalfa at the meeting of the Mon
tana horticultural society and when
at the banquet that closed the con-
vention he was assigned "The Big
Red Apple as topic he said more
about alfalfa and gave his auditors
the benefit of such facts and figures
as he had forgotten to mention in
Z.
Spreads the Light Abroad.
"Aafalfa in Montana-Its Possibil-
tiles" was the subject assigned to
him for an address. He went on to
show how alfalfa contributed to the
growth of cities, as well as to the
prosperity of the farmer and stock
man. AS forage plant he said alfal-
ia was as old as civilization itself
and then gave the history of its intro
duction into the United States. It
was being grown all over the country
and it's production proved as success
full in the east as in the west. In
Montana it was possible to raise it
| on almost every kind of soil and was
a splendid crop for either hay or
seed and when fed to animals was
nearest to a balanced ration of any
crop grown. "The growing of alfalfa
| will increase the market value OF
grain," said Mr.. O'DonneQl, "as 1T in.
| creases the demand for feeding. It
will pay a Is per cent dividend on
valuation of $100 to 5000 per acre,
and it enriches the soil and doubles
the yield of following crops"
The digestibility and palatibility OF
alfalfa were retained when the plant
was dried and it was good feed at
any time of the year, for all kinds OF
livestock, including even milch cows,
for by feeding it with chopped feed
the COWS can be sold to the butcher
as soon aus dry. AS q food for hogs,
poultry and horses, he said it was
also Of the highest value. as it was
nutritious as we'll as economical; q
steer could be fed 400 days on an acre
i of alfalfa
Mr.. O'Donnell said that the money
lost last winter, by winter losses o.
livestock, would if properly spent,
produce enough alfalfa to feed every
animal in the state for six months
He next referred to the relation OF
alfalfa to the economic and CONNER
ciaa conditions of the state. Its growth
meant increased payrolls, increased
herds and flocks and greater urbar
and rural population. To the ban
ker the growing, of the crop meant as
much as to the man who produced
| it, for by reason of it he may depene
upon his ability to make collections
at any time of the year and therefore
evenly distribute his loans. A Billings
banker had told him that no none.
had ever been lost on alfalfa, ex
4 cept through the fault of men who dit
not understand their business.
In conclusion he said: 1T give
hhem hay with a bouquet on ever.
forkful, and, like Banquo's ghost,
will not down. Tie more You cut II
the more it grows"
Answers Many Questions.
A discussion followed the addres
and MI. O'Donnell was asked man
questions, one OF which had relatio'