Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-08-08
Object Of the Work and Results
0btained-Some of the
Prominent Features.
GOING TO THE FARM HOMES
Thirteen Campaigns Have Been Car
rlsd on In Michigan, Ohio and I'LL.
nols--tiolden's Plan Meets Warm
Reception With tho Farmers.

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.
The latest plan Of Holden Is to
place alfalfa upon every farm. There
are three prominent features In his
plan:
"a The introduction Of q compare
lively new crop into the Corn
Belt, Southern and Eastern
states.
(2) Going direct to the homes Of the
farmers, where meetings are
held In the fields. and success
and failure discussed according
to local conditions.
(8) 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 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 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:
ID Six thousand farmers visited at
their homes during q flve-day
campaign.
(2) Thirty-two meetings held.
90 Three hundred and seventy-fve
miles travelled by the Alfalfa Au-
tomobile Train.
az One hundred and thirty-six alfalfa
talks made by the Holden staff
of alfalfa lecturers.
(5) Many applications for similar cam
paigns from all parts of the
United States.
The Kent county campaign has been
followed by campaigns in Allegan.
Barry, Grand Traverse and st. Clair
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.
lcsburg, nearly 1000 people gathered
from all parts Of Ohio and adjoining
states to learn more about alfalfa. At
this great meeting the Ohio State Al
falfa Growers association was organ
lied. Over 500 automobiles made UP
the alfalfa train. 1t is recorded as
the greatest agricultural assemblage
In the history Of Ohio. Other Ohio
counties where the work has been
taken up report success on every
hand.
Sangamon and Kane counties, ILL.,
nois, have both conducted great cam
paigns. At one meeting In williams
vile. ILL.,. over 1900 farmers came to
hear the alfalfa lecturers.
In all of these campaigns which
were conducted within 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 1t is oonservatively estimated
that 100000 acres Of alfalfa will be
seeded during this and the coming
season.
Such is the result of the initial work
OF campaigning for alfalfa, but vastly
more than this tangible result has
been accomplished. Every farmer
throughout the region where the work
was conducted Is talking about al
falfa The cooperation of the schools
in the territory is very important
and effective feature. School officials,
AiOui tuo Ai6uobJ W tuO lowest. nave
never failed to appreciate the oppor-
tunity.
Professor Holden has expressed
himself az considering 1t the most
wonderful experience and the most
beneficial trip from the farm stand
point that he has ever taken.
But this is not all-whereyer the
farmers Of any community are inter-
ested in the growing of alfalfa, when
possible a follow-up man, thorough In
his knowledge of alfalfa culture. will
be sent out to assist them in getting
q start. He will live with the
farmers and aid them in solving
the problems at home. He will
30 from farm to farm upon re-
quest and study success and failure
Before the coming of 1914 cam
paigns will have been conducted In
Every part of the United States and
Canada. Interest IL growing 30 rap.
dly that many counties have organised
and undertaken the work
Without assistance from the outside.