454 Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



day can be handled. The various hay yards are laid parallel, the Santa 

 Fe having a capacity for 150 cars, the Missouri Pacific for 120, the 

 Union Pacific, Rock Island and 'Frisco for 75 cars each, and the other 

 roads for lesser numbers. 



PRAIRIE AND ALFALFA HAY. 



The hay trade of Kansas City has grown largely with the increasing 

 popularity of prairie hay and alfalfa. The hay baler has also much to 

 do with the growth of the hay business throughout the country, but the 

 energy of western shippers in advertising the value of prairie hay and 

 encouraging the growth of alfalfa has been the great factor in making 

 Kansas City the hay center of the country. 



Prairie hay is native to the plains. The feeding value is not so great 

 as that of the legumes or timothy, and for many years it was set at a 

 much lower estimate than it deserves. Now, however, thanks to the 

 consistent pressure of good advertising, it has gained the recognition and 

 commands a price commensurate with its value. From offerings at $2 per 

 ton with little demand in former years, prairie reached as high as $24.50 

 in 1912, and holds a place consistently at about $2 to $4 under timothy 

 and alfalfa. 



Alfalfa deserves far more space than we have at our disposal, for it 

 is unquestionably the king of hays, in feeding value, productiveness, soil 

 upbuilding and economy. It ranks with wheat bran in protein content, 

 and mixed with a corn ration is the greatest feed in the world. 



The history of alfalfa is interesting, but its familiarity makes it un- 

 necessary to repeat it here. Although one of the oldest feeding stuffs 

 known, if we may believe the archaeologists and ancient historians, its use 

 in this country is of recent origin, and even yet is not so widely grown 

 or used as its value warrants. Each year, however, sees an increased 

 acreage and greater popularity among feeders, so that the Kansas City 

 market, which has been foremost in developing knowledge and interest 

 in the legumes, will continue to reap the benefits. 



The largest handlers of alfalfa in the world are at Kansas City, and 

 if the market had no other mark of distinction than this it would always 

 be famous as the first to welcome and nourish alfalfa. (See "Market- 

 ing," in index.) 



MARKETING ALFALFA HAY, FROM THE BUYER'S 

 STANDPOINT. 



By J. A. BRUBAKEB, of J. A. Brubaker & Co., Kansas City, Mo. 



Clearly to point out the greatest good to the alfalfa producer from a 

 buyer's standpoint we must not only study the world's greatest hay 

 market namely, Kansas City but also the hay salesman, as well as the 

 hay buyer, the salesman representing the producer and the buyer the 

 consumer, each recognizing that his success depends on his ability to 

 satisfy his client. In fact, they must each guard the interests of their 

 clients to hold their trade. These two representatives, governed by rules 

 of the Kansas City Hay Dealers' Association, protecting both the pro- 

 ducer and the consumer, have made this market famous. 



