Morris tribune., 1913-11-07
FIVE CARLOADS OF
ALFALFA SEED
PURCHASED FOR WEST
CENTRAL COUNTIES.
Corn and Colt Show Held at
Wheaton Last Saturday Shows
How Farmers Have Become
Interested.
From the MinneapoIis Tribune.

From the Minneapolis Tribune.
Wheaton, Mimi, Nov. 2.-An in.
cidental outgrowth of the Corn and
Colt" show held in the main streets
of Wheaton yesterday was the pur.
chase by the West Central Develop
meBt association of $50. OGO worth of
alfalfa seed. All of this seed is to
be planted in the IL counties en-
braced by the West Central associa-
tion. For $50, 600 the association
will receive five entire carloads of
alfalfa seed. all of it registered.
This marks new departure in Min
nesota agriculture. for with the ex-
ception of Carver county where for so
years variety of alfalfa has been
grown there is said to be no place in
the state where the farmers have
grown it to any great extent.
In the II counties in which the
West Central association does it's work
of development, alfalfa has been tried
in occasional spots lately and with re-
suits so profitable that the officers of
the association felt justified in the
large expenditure for seed contracted
for last night, when the curtain had
been rung down on the corn and colt
show.
1t is felt certain that this seed will
produce about five tons of alfalfa TO
the acre. On the market alfalfa
brings from SIS to $40 a ton. Two
or three crops to the year can readily
be grown. the -ton-to-an. acre esti-
mate being gross for the year.
AGRICULTURE EXPERTS AP-
PROVE.
Confident that alfalfa can be grown
successfully in their district, the Off
GERS of the West Central association
declare the investment contracted for
last night to be the most profitable
ever made by the ash Ociation. 1t was
undertaken only after the splendid
encouragement Traverse county farm
ers gave the association by their re-
presentation at the corn and colt
show yesterday and after Dean Woods
and the state agricultural agents had
given their approval.
The dean would not approve the al
faIfa purchase until assured that the
seed would be the registered article.
All of the lot contracted for is regis
tered, every bushel carrying notation
of where it was grown. If the farm
er wants more Of the same seed next
year he can obtain it.
''This is the most important move
ever made by the West Central associ-
tion." said F. w. Murphy. its presi-
dent, last night. "For stock feeding.
alfalfa is better than hay. One of the
fve cars purchased will be placed on
sale at the corn and alfalfa show at
Morris, Dec. 8 to 13. 1t is certain
that this carload will be disposed of
on that occasion.
To a considerable extent it was the
corn and colt show which convinced
the association tEat the farmers would
cooperate in the purchase of this
seed.
FARMERS SHOW INTEREST
The men who organized the West
Central association have fought hard
for it's advancement among the farm
ers, but the association would be as
nothing if the farmers refused to be-
come interesteI in the new gospel
taught. Yesterday was demonstra.
tion of the degree of interest the till
ers of the soil and raisers of live stock
actually take in that the gospel for 9
large portion of the rural population
of Traverse county placed its best ir
the manner of corn and colts on par
ade in the main streets of Wheator
yesterday.
Strictly speaking the Traverse
County Farm bureau gave the corr
and colt show, but that organization
is but the county subsid ary of the
West Central association. giving it'
demonstration in The nome town o.
Mr.. Murphy, president Of the associ
alton. So the demon stration of in
terest which the boys and the men o
the Traverse county far $ gave in tn
shows OF the Traverss County Farm
bureau was at ore and the same TIM
an equal demonstratIor Of interest il
the gospel of the general organiza
tion.
AS a quiet and sincere tip to othe
devel 3pment organizations let it b
: suggested by the good citizens 0
Wheaton and the farmers of Travers
county that no matter WGat kind of