The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-16
By B. LoRDELL

UT LnlS country TOT grain. A cry IS pelHS raised by the population of many other countries as well as our own for grain; grain to feed millions of hungry mouths, and grain to supply the needs of stock at home and abroad.
 What can the American farmer do to meet this unparalleled demand without the livestock industry suffering? This question can be answered by stating what other countries are doing Ger many and Austria have, to great ex- tent, been cut off from their supply of imported mill feeds, which they have depended upon in the past. While the live stock industry has suffered there, they have been able to do wonderfully well by the growing and feeding of all faIfa. Why can't we do likewise?
 The efficiency of the livestock indus try in this country has been kept up in the past by the feeding of large amounts of grain and mill feeds The average roughage ration fed requires a certain amount of grain in order for animals to do we'll The intencs demand for grain is causing shortage in live stock circles and is also creating almost prohibitive prices.
 Due to the scarcity of nitrogen fer tilizers, cottonseed meal is being used more extensively as a fertilizer thus causing shortage in that product and
 
 probably be milled closer, causing a shortage of bran, shorts, etc. Brewery and distillery by-products cannot be de- pended upon for the future. If farmers do not raise some substitute or partial substitute for these protein feeds, a crisis is certain to confront the live stock industry.
 how alfalfa will help save the day can be best understood by considering the principles of balanced ratons The nu- trlments in food are divided into two general classes:
 l. Protein is the same to the animal body as iron is to the engine This con- stltutes in part, the bones, blood, mus Gle, viscera, the casein in milk, etc
 z. Carbohydrates and fat are the same to the animal body as fuel is to the en- zine.
 In a general way, live stock requires one pound of protein to about from four to seven and one-half pounds of carbo- hydrates, including fat Where the roughage ration is well balanced ani- mals do reasonably well without the addition of protein grains but in case the roughage ration is not we'll bal anced the addition of protein grain is essential to fair and continued gains or yields Further, homegrown grain such as corn and oats, can be efficiently used where the roughage is balanced.
 For productive stock in the grain belt an excellent ration is to feed animals what corn silage, alfalfa, or alfalfa and clover they will clean up, and then add a reasonable amount of half and half mixture of ground corn and oats When grain is unusually high priced the feed ing alone of the roughage mentioned Will produce the greatest profits.
 ALFALFA A LABOR SAVER
 Ot1r live octo must be kept up. An acre of alfalfa produces more per cutting and per an- mum than other kinds of hay. One ton or alfala contains as much food value as one and one-half tons of clover or sev- eral tons of timothy or prairie hay. Hence, where alfalfa is grown, less la DOT IS required to produce ton or to feed the stock. It amounts to the same as taking load of grain to market in wagon instead of wheelbarrow Also, considering that hard varieties of alfalfa last longer period the pro- portion of labor per annum in establish ing field is very small.
 This is certain: Where labor is scarce and expensive, farmer can better afford to employ it in raising and feeding ton of alfalfa, which balances his ration and fnsures results, than in producing rough age which does not.
 KINDs OF ALFALFA TO GROW
 There is no doubt but that alfalfa is more valuable as crop where it can be kept for a number of years In order to obtain permanent stand a hardy seed that will resist the most severe win. ter conditions is necessary. Where win ter conditions are mild, common varie- ties have proven fairly successful, but when severe winter conditions prevail the alfalfa will partially or totally winter- kill. Even in favorable years a certain number of plants will die out, causing grasses and clover to enter These in turn will in time crowd out the alfalfa. Where hardy varieties which do not thin out from year to year are used, it Is an easy matter to prevent the entrance of clover and grasses by renovating the field with spring tooth harrow when ever necessary.
 Where genuine Grimm alfalfa is grown, farmers can depend upon having alfalfa