The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-10-28
PLANS FOR STATEWIDE LE-
GUME CAMPAIGN.
Michigan Needs More Alfalfa Clo-
yer, Sweet Clover, Vetch and
Soy Beans.

(By j. F. Cox, Farm Crops Dept.)
The time is ripe to make Michi-
gan a leading Alfalfa State. After
twenty-five years of effort, alfalfa
has arrived. Everywhere farmers
are talking alfalfa and they like to
hear about it. With dollar and fifty
cent corn staring them in the face,
alfalfa looks mighty good as money
making crop. In fact, it is one of
the best in the state this year. With
timothy and clover hay failure in
most sections, alfalfa fields showed
up like GASES. Like good clover, al
falfa is the foundation of success
full farming.
To succeed with alfalfa, farmers
must follow the rules of the game.
They must, in most cases, use good
ground limestone or mari; they must
inoculate; they must get good seed;
they must use their county agent,
the Michigan Agricultural College,
and the Farm Bureau. Good stands
of alfalfa are of great benefit to flu
ture cultivated and grain crops. A
man can not grow this crop without
becoming a better soils man, a bet
ter crop grower, and better feeder
Of livestock. 4 az "a
p DR.. M. M. MeCool has pointed out
repeatedly the need of organic; mat
ter in most Michigan soils, the ad-
visibility of using lime and phos-
plate. AS Mr.. T. A. Farrand, Hor-
ticultural Specialist, says, "When
a man takes up alfalfa, he introduces
a new agriculture" Farrand knows
what a foundation for young trees
an old stand of alfalfa makes,-and
do remarkably well.
Prof. o. E. Reed, in his recent bet
ter sire campaign, talked alfalfa and
sweet clover for good deal of the
time, from a livestock standpoint.
The man who grows alfalfa on his
farm, becomes, whether he wants to
or not, more successful and scien-
tific feeder.
During the last few years county
agents have given much of their time
to alfalfa. Mr.. F. S. Dunks, of Liv-
ingston county, has been influential
in securing the planting of over fiji
teen hundred acres in his county.
81 believe that this county is one
of the best organized for alfalfa in
the state, and yet feel that l have
just begun, for not one in ten of
my farmers grow alfalfa" says Mr..
Dunks, who is planning a strong al
falfa campaign beginning in Novem-
Der.
Plans for Campaign
Plans are being laid for the early
beginning of state wide legume
campaign which will be intensified
in sections most prepared and most
in need of increased acreages, for
next spring, of alfalfa, clover, sweet
clover, vetch and soy beans. The
Michigan Agricultural College will
call on all interested and useful agen-
cies to aid in this far-reaching cam
paign. The Farm Bureau, develop
ment bureaus, railroad agricultural
departments, and local business or
CARNATIONS have expressed their will |
lingness to aid in securing co-opera-
tive, efforts to make available lime
and mari, and phosphate and other
commercial fertilizers in sufficient
quantity at best prices.
The seed department of the Farm
Bureau is in a position to- supply
large quantities of best northwest |
ern grown alfalfa seed. The Bureau
is also organized to be of great SER
vice in securing lime and phosphate. |
Special alfalfa publications will be |
gotten out by the Farm Crops De-
partment, during the winter and |
spring campaign.
1t seems that the time is right for |
a widespread increase of leguminous
crops. Put alfalfa across right and |
more will be accomplished in the
year for agriculture than by any
other means.
Careful attention Of county agents
and suggestions for this work are