The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1913-10-23
Object of the Work and Results
Obtained - Some Of the
Prominent Features.
GOING TO THE FARM HOMES
Nineteen Campaigns Have Been Car
rled on In Michigan, Ohio and IlIl-
nols, Alabama and Mississippi
HoIden's Plan Meets Warm
Reception With the
Farmers.


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 Of 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:
(I The introduction of a compara-
lively new crop into the Corn
Belt, Southern and Eastern
states and the Pacific North
west.
(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.
(3) The use of the 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.
Nineteen campaigns have thus far
been successfully conducted in Mich
igan, Ohio and Illinois.
Some of the Results.
For example, some of the results Of
the Kent county (Mich.) campaign
are:
% Six thousand farmers visited at
their homes during a lve-day
campaign.
(2) Three hundred and seventy-hve
miles travelled by the Alfalfa Au-
tomobile Train.
(4 One hundred and thirty-six alfalfa
talks made by the Holden staff
of alfalfa lecturers.
90 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, Paulding, Delphos,
Belmont, Richland, Auglaize and
Champaign counties, Ohio; and Sanga-
mon, Stephenson, DuPage and Kane
counties, Illinois, and several counties
of Mississippi and Alabama.
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 the Ohio State AL
falfa Growers association was organ
lied. Over 300 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 1,200 farmers came to
hear the alfalfa lectures.
In all of these campaigns which
were conducted within a period of
about two months nearly 100000 farm
ers have been reached with the gos-
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 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
faIfa. The cooperation of the schools
In Il6 l6IIltOIg 10 very lluPOi ldhe
and effective feature.
Professor Holden has expressed .
himself as considering it the most |
wonderful experience and the most /
efficient work from the farm stand |
point that he has ever undertaken.
But this is not all-wherever 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 .
! start He will live with the
farmers and aid them in solving 1
the problems at home. He will
30 from farm to farm upon request .
and study success and failure.
Before the coming Of 1914, cam .
oaigns will have been conducted in .
every part of the United States and .
Canada. Interest is growing so rap I
dly that many counties have organized /
and undertaken the work
Eithout assistance from the outside.