Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1913-07-31

FOR alfalfa
Object Of the Work and Results
Obtained Some Of the
Prominent Features.
GOING TO THE FARM HOMES
Thirteen Campaigns Have Been Car
risd on In Michigan, Ohio and III
nols-holden's Plan Meets Warm
Reception With the Farmers.

nolo-10t0eno SIau m00to 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 q new method OF ex
tending agricultural knowledge.
Holden was the originator Of agrt
cultural demonstration trains; Of az
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.
The latest plan of Holden is to
place alfalfa upon every farm. There
are three prominent features in biz
plan:
a. The introduction Of compare
lively new crop into the Corr
Belt. Southern and Casters
states.
90 Going direct to the homes Of thu
farmers. where meetings arr
held in the fields, and success
and failure discussed according
to local conditions.
(2) 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 ia the most profitable crol
he can grow: that 1t can be grown
profitably upon every farm; that 1t en-
riches the soil; increases farm values
stimulates live stock growing and dai
rying; produces double that Of othe
hay crops. and is better feed.
Thirteen campaigns have thus IA
been successfully conducted In Mich
igan. Ohio and Illinois.
Some Of the Results.
Results Of the Kent county (Mich.
campaign are:
"a Six thousand farmers visited a
their homes during fiveda,
campaign.
(2) Thirty-two meetings held.
80 Three hundred and seventy-fiv
miles travelled by the Alfalfa Az
tomobile Train.
a. One hundred and thirty-six alfalf
talks made by the Holden stat
of alfalfa lecturers.
CO. Many applications for similar can
paisns from all parts Of tn
United States.
The Kent county campaign has bee
followed by campaigns in Allega1
Barry, Grand Traverse and st. Clai
counties, Michigan; Van Vert Mario,
Fulton, Williams and Champaign coul
ties, Ohio; and Sangamon and Kan
counties, Illinois.
Great Meeting In Ohio.
At one meeting in Ohio upon tn
farm Of Joseph n. Wing. near Mechal
lcsburg. nearly 1000 people gathers
from all parts Of Ohio and adjoinin
states to learn more about alfalfa. A
this great meeting the Ohio State A
ealfa Growers association was orgal
ICED. Over 300 automobiles made u
the alfalfa train. It IL recorded q
the greatest agricultural assemblag
In the history Of Ohio. Other Obi
counties where the work has bee
taken up report success on ever
hand.
Sangamon and Kane counties. III
nois. have both conducted great can
paigns. At one meeting In William
vile. ILL.,. over 1900 farmers came I
hear the alfalfa lecturers.
In all Of these campaigns whic
were conducted within . period G
about two months nearly $4,000 farm
ers have been reached with the 20,
pei Of alfalfa.
: Az . result also of the campaig
work 1t 10 conservattvely estimate
that 100000 acres Of alfalfa will b
seeded during this and the comm
season.
Such is the result of the initial wor
Of campaigning for alfalfa. but vastl
more than this tangible result ha
been accomplished. Every farme
throughout the region where the wor
was conducted 10 talking about q
falfa. The cooperation Of the school
In the territory 10 very importa1
and effective feature. School onicial
from the highest to the lowest, hav
never failed to appreciate the oppo
tunity.
Professor Holden has expresss
himself - considering 1t the mos
wonderful experience and the moi
beneficial trip from the farm stan,
point that he has ever taken.
4 But this 10 not all-wherever th
farmers of any community are inte
ested in the growing Of alfalfa. whe
possible follow-up man. thorough 1
his knowledge Of alfalfa culture, wi
be sent out to assist them In gettin
. start. He will live with tn
farmers and aid them in solvin
the problems ct homo. He VII
90 from farm to farm upon +,
quest and study success and failure
u Before the coming Of 1914 can
paigns will have been conducted I
every part Of the United States an
NopoAo Intornat 20 ~rOuyln~ an M,