442 



Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



FIG. 365. Alfalfa mills are located largely in the irrigated districts. 



California, with now and then one appearing in western Kansas or 

 Nebraska. 



But this does not mean that the production of alfalfa meal has de- 

 creased. On the contrary, each year shows a consistent increase over 

 the output of the preceding season, for the reason that where a half 

 dozen small mills, located in sections where excess of rain or a shipping 

 and feeding demand for the hay renders profitable operation difficult, 

 have discontinued business, a newer plant, equaling their combined 

 capacity, has been established at a point in Colorado, or perhaps Wy- 

 oming, where an abundance of irrigated alfalfa is usually harvested 

 without interference from rain or heavy dews, and admits of uninter- 

 rupted milling operations six or eight months in the year. 



Thus it is that Kansas, where the alfalfa milling industry originated, 

 has already lost its early prestige in this respect a loss that the State 

 Agricultural College offidials believe is more than offset by the con- 

 stantly increasing marketing of alfalfa in the shape of beef, butter fat, 

 pork, or big-boned, heavy horses and mules. 



Very few growers of alfalfa grind the hay before feeding it to their 

 own animals. They do not believe that the increased value justifies the 

 extra trouble and expense. However, there are those who take a con- 

 trary view. For example, the writer is reminded of one of the most 

 successful stock feeders of Marion county, Kansas, who invariably 

 springs the top market quotations on the Wichita hog market ten cents 

 a hundred pounds whenever he sends down a load of porkers. 



This interesting farmer is totally blind, but he can judge the condi- 

 tion of a hog or steer better by the sense of touch than most men can 

 with the assistance of their eyesight. He feeds a mixture of corn chop, 

 alfalfa meal and linseed meal, and his finished hogs usually average 

 around 340 pounds and dress out to the delight of the packers. He can 



