Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-09-10
CAMPAIGNING
FOR ALFALFA
Object of the Work and Results
Obtained-S0me OF the
Prominent Features.
GOING TO THE FARM HOMES

Thirteen Campaigns Have Been Car
ried on in Michigan, Ohio and IIii-
nois--Holdens Plan Meets Warm
Reception With the Farmers.
Prof. P. G. Holden, director OF the
Agricultural Extension Department of
the International Harvester Company
Of New Jersey, has planned and put
into operation a new method of ex-
tending agricultural knowledge.
Holden was the originator of agri-
cultural demonstration trains; OF ag-
ricultural short courses, and many
other effective plans, through the
agency of which millions of dollars.
have been added to the agricultural
wealth of this country. Is
The latest plan of Holden is to
place alfalfa upon every farm. There
are three prominent features IN his
plan:
Cd The introduction Of compare
lively new crop into the Corn
Belt Southern and Eastern
states.
ca Going direct to the homes of the
farmers, where meetings are
held in the fields, and success
and failure discussed according
to local conditions.
CD The use of that most modern We
hicle-the automobile.
Purpose of Campaign.
The primary purpose Of the cam
paign is to show the American farmer
that alfalfa is the most profitable crop
he can grow; that it can be grown
profitably. upon every farm; that it en-
riches the soil; increases farm values;
stimulates live stock growing and dali
rying; produces double that of other
hay crops, and is better feed.
Thirteen campaigns have thus far
been successfully conducted in Mich
igan, Ohio and Illinois.
Some of the Results.
Results of the Kent county (Mich.)
campaign are:
Cd Six thousand farmers visited at
their homes during five-day
campaign.
(2) Thirty-two meetings held.
60 Three hundred and seventy-dve
miles Travelled by the Alfalfa AL
tomobile Train.
az One hundred and thirty-siX alfalfa
talks made by the Holden staff
Of alfalfa lecturers.
60 Many applications for similar cam
paigns from all parts Of the
United States.
The Kent county campaign has been
So followed by campaigns in Allegan
Barry, Grand Traverse and ST. Clail
counties, Michigan; Van Vert, Marion
Fulton, Williams and Champaign coun
ties, Ohio; and Sangamon, DuPage
and Kane counties, Illinois.
Great Meeting in Ohio.
At one meeting in Ohio upon the
farm of Joseph E. Wing, near Mechan
icsburg, nearly 1000 people gathered
from all parts of Ohio and adjoining
states to learn more about alfalfa AT
this great meeting che Ohio State AL
falfa Growers association was organ
lied. Over 800 automobiles made uI
the alfalfa train. 1t is recorded as
the greatest agricultural assemblage
in the history of Ohio. Other Ohio
counties where the work has beer
taken up report success on every
hand
Sangamon and Kane counties, Hi
nois, have both conducted great cam
: paigns.s At one meeting in Williams
vile, ILL.,, over 1000 farmers came tt
hear the alfalfa lecturers.
In all of these campaigns which
we're conducted within a period OF
about two months nearly $4,000 farm
ers have been reached with the Cos
pei of alfalfa.
AS a result also of the campaign
work it is conservatively estimated
that 100000 acres of alfalfa will be
seeded during this and the comm,
season.
Such is the result of the initial worl
of campaigning for alfalfa, but vastl,
more than this tangible result ha
been accomplished. Every farme
throughout the region where the worl
was conducted is talking about a
falfa. The cooperation of the school
in the territory is very importan
and effective feature. School official:
from the highest to the lowest, hav
never failed to appreciate the oppo
tunity.
Professor Holden has espresso
himself as considering it the mos
wonderful experience and the mos
efficient work from the farm stant
point that he has ever taken.
But this is not all-wherever til
farmers of any community are inte
ested in the growing of alfalfa, whe
possible follow-up man, thorough i
his knowledge of alfalfa culture. wi
be sent out to assist them in gettin
start. He will live with til
Il