The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-18
4GRAND OLD MAN OF KANSAS ARRIVES Secretary Coburn Comes to Urge Alfalfa Farming IS A PROFITABLE CROP Tells What Alfalfa Growing Has Done for Kansas and What It
 Will do for Alabama if
 Properly Cultivated
IS A PROFITABLE CROP

that state, and the best known of all experts on alfalfa, was in Birmingham yesterday While discussing his most notable work, the creation of alfalfa growing in Kansas, Secretary Coburn painted picture of rural wealth or unlimited dimensions. From two tons to the acre in Alabama with mlni- mum price of, SIP per ton, to six tons per acre, were the hopes held out by Secre- tary Coburn, in taking his state as the model and applying the equal energy, care and cultivation to this common wealth. A
 MT. Coburn says that no grower or alfalfa should feel discouraged If his first crop should prove failure
 T have known one, two, three years to pass by without any success, said Secretary Coburn. If the crop fails dur ing that time, 1t actually spells nothing. The thing to do, is to keep on trying It may have been that the ground was not properly handled, the bacteria was perhaps unsuited for that growth or many other things may have come up to kill the first fruits of your labor
 q am told that Alabama has linn tied crop of alfalfa. Any land will grow it that has any subsoil of rich ness or where cotton, corn or any or the well known crops will grow. How ever. that soil with limestone forma- tions, which I am told exists in south Alabama counties, would be most suited for the growth of alfalfa.
 Land Prices Advance
 Tn Kansas I have seen the price of lands advance from g an acre, and at that drug on the market, to sloo per acre, all due to the discovery that al. falfa would grow on it and that four five or six crops could be made in one season. At that we have in Kansas many lards held at a valuation Of sl5o per acre which would not be sold at any price. The reason is that the owners can secure larger rate or interest on the money invested by keep ing the lands and growing alfalfa.
 q see signs of greater agricultural wealth in this country, and l know or no greater way of getting that than by the cultivation of alfalfa. Alfalfa, it should be understood, is not grass. It belongs to the same family as the pea, bean and such other plants. It will not grow on any land that is wet. The land must be level and we'll drained before success can be made of the crop. The growth may be greatly assisted by the proper rotation of crops on the ground, such as a crop of sweet clover. That gives the required bacteria to the soil and as it is the cheapest way Of getting that highly valuable crop nour- ishment. sweet clover Will De round to be the most suited.
 Alfalfa is a rather curious growth and must be handled in the most care full way. It should be furnished plenty of nitrogen, which gives great life and stability to the growing plant. me roots of alfalfa penetrate to great depths and they get the advantage or the under soil like no other plant does. have heard the certified report made that the roots of alfalfa penetrate 1a9 feet under ground. The statement is rather amazing, but if it was cut di- rectly in two it would be sufficient for my purpose. However, that root was measured after having gone a subsoil and come out into tunnel. Alfalfa roots go right down and carry nitrogen and water down with them, thus creating rich so.l. These long roots die in time and formu- late a richer sub soil for the future crops and gives added life to the roots of future plants. There are few plants like it in this country"
 First Trip to Alabama
 MT. coburn said that he had never been to Alabama before and that from what he was able to see Birmingham was very interesting and instrue- tive place. He was taken to Corey, Ensley, Avondale and elsewhere by Joseph o. Thompson during the morn ing and then lunched with MT. and Mrs. Thompson. later holding an in- formal reception at the Chamber of Commerce. He will leave this morning for Montgomery.
 After getting off the topic of alfalfa Kansas 4l years. He walked across the Missouri river to get a job while that stream was frozen. He said lie left Chicago for Kansas not to take a position but to get job He has been offered the governorship of his state as well as the United States sen atorship but prefers to remain at his agricultural work.
 He says he is a firm believer in the eight hour day provision for laboring men. "However," he said, eight Of them should be before dinner and eight after dinner.'
 Tt takes 16 hours of hard work per day to make a success of anything he said, 'or that is what I have found out in my long years of work in Kan sas although 1 do not point myself out as a huge success The average man will find that work never ends when it comes to being successful and taking care of,a growing family
 MT. Coburn complimented Birmins- ham and said no place of recent times had attracted the attention of the coun try like the Magic City of Alabama.
 He seemed to believe that in the accepted alfalfa zone in this state a great wealth awaited the men who worked away. eight hours before din- ner and eight hours after
 He leaves today for Montgomery 10 be the guest of Capt R. r. Kolb, Ala Jama commissioner of agriculture, Sec retary Coburn will address meeting in this afternoon at o'clock and intends to return to Topeka on he first train leaving after his speech making He came to Alabama for the purpose of making the Montgomery speech, believing, as he puts 1t, "tha: f nna man pould he eucOllra ped