Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-18
acre at ss.os per ton. $40.

acre, sS6.1O.
Alfalfa is rich in protein, the food I
element rated at .O67 per pound, of 1
which it contains nearly four times
as much as timothy. Alfalfa contains I
nearly the same amount of carbo-
hydrates as timothy, the cheapest
element rated at .O06 per pound. The
Tcher food element in alfalfa, COM
bined with the larger yield, makes
the difference in value per acre.
The timothy grower elects to use
Is acres to secure the same food
elemsat protein. which the alfalfa
grower can secure from one acre 1t
IS a question OF using one acre to ac-
complish a certain end or Is acres TO
secure identically the same result,
so far as quantity and value are con-
cerned. 1t is like employing Is men
with inferior too.s to do the same
work that one man with better tools
can perform.
The last census reports in round
numbers shows 100000 acres OF
timothy in Illinois in 1909, and yield
OF a little less than 100000 tons,
valued at s20000,0oO or a yield Of
one and one-third tons to the acre
/ at SO per ton The same report
I shows little over $4,000 acres Of
/ alfalfa, yielding about three tons to
! the acre, and valued at S11 a ton.
/ IF we take the three tons Of alfalfa
/ per acre at s11 per ton as shown by
the census report, and compare it with
/ the one and one-third tons of timothy
at so per ton, We have a gain Of
about $50 per acre for alfalfa, which
If applied TO the timothy acreage for
Illinois would add $50, 1000, 900 to it's
wealth With the present prices of
beef, mutton and pork, there can be
no doubt but that every ton OF alfalfa
girown in Illinois is worth at least
$50 on the farm.
The last census reports over 4,000,-
600 acres in oats in 1909, with an aver
age yield Of SO bushels per acre. The
cost OF growing an acre of oats is
estimated at $3.50. Thirty-six bushels
Of oats ~ the price this year, 27 cents,
amounts TO 1912. less cost Of produc-
ton, $3.50, and we have left 1892 for
investment, which amounts 10 2.5 per
cent on a valuation Of $3.50 per acre
Why do the farmers of Illinois SOW
such an enormous Acreage of oats.
when a yield of even so bushels per
acre at present prices would only
amount 10 Sl6.20. less than the value
Of one ton of alfalfa hay, or one-ffth
OF It's possible yield?
1T Is in evidence from many parts
OF Illinois that five tons of alfalfa
'can be grown from one acre, and that
IL Is worth $40 per ton. or 500 per
acre One hundred dollars at present
prices wiz buy $40 bushels of oats.
or 200 bushels OF corn at so cents per
bushel, or 100 bushels OF wheat at
81 per bushel
The real value Of land, apart from
any prospective or speculative value,
is based on It's earning capacity in
crop returns. What is land worth that
viii make an annual return OF 500
per acre7 One hundred dollars is 10
per cent interest on $1,000, or # is
so per cent on $500. What is land
worth that does not produce TO ex-
Ceed so bushels OF oats at 27 cents
per bushe, or total value of $3.50
per acre? Il does not require an ex-
pert mathematician 10 determine that
+ is only worth one-seyeuth as much
as the land growing alfalfa.
The corn acreage OF Illinois for
1909 was something over 10000
acres. yielding in round numbers go
, 100000 bushels OF corn, or an aver
age yield OF 3s.S bushels per acre, or
an average value Of $1974. Corn Is
by far the most important crop in
Illinois. and yet the average yield per
acre barely equals the value of one
ton OF alfalfa, or one-flfth of its aver
age Yield per acre. At so cents per
bushei yield OF 200 bushels Of corn
per acre Will be required 10 equal the
value OF one acre OF alfalfa.
Astounding as these statements
may seem, there Is still another quail
ity in alfalfa that adds immeasurably
tc its va.ue. There has been an enor-
nous waste In the past In growing
and feeding stock. because of the fact
that a balanced ration has not been
fed. Much feed has been allowed
70 60 20 waste because farmers have
. not obtained satisfactory results IN
feeding it.
Only 4 small fraction Of the corn
fodder is utilized for feed. notwith.
standing the fact that every expert
: ment made TO determine its feeding
: value places the value of the fodder
, after the corn has been removed, q,
g more than one-third, or nearly 30 per
=. cent Of the value OF the entire crop
= This 40 per cent OF the feeding OF
nutritive value OF the corn crop, the
greatest crop grown in Illinois, may
now be utilized TO its full value by
. the use Of sufiicient alfalfa 10 mako Il
/ balanced or complete ration.
What this would mean to Illinois
/ an unable 20 estimate, In order
70 obtain the best and most economi
cal gains and results IN feeding live
stoon Of all kinds. a balanced ration il
absolutely necessary. Alfalfa Is rich
IN the element protein. which is lack
ing IN many other farm products. 4
A