154 CLOVER CULTURE. 



properties on the lines of the railroads leading- to the great 

 grain markets first decrease in value, then stand empty and 

 finally are burned up or torn down. 



The progress of clover and grass culture may be noted 

 even in the political discussions, and especially those that 

 grow out of agricultural discontent. These discussions move 

 west-Avith the tame grasses. The granger legislation of 1873 

 affected Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, while that 

 of 1889 affected only, to any great extent, the states west of 

 the Missouri and south of the Ohio rivers, or, in other words, 

 the grain and cotton growing as distinguised from the grass 

 growing states. No less significant is the fact that the 

 so-called granger legislation of Iowa in 1884-88 had for its 

 object, not the cheapening of rates on crude products, but the 

 cheaper distribution of its own products within that state. 



It will be seen that the culture of the clovers and other 

 grasses is far reaching in its consequences. In urging it as 

 we do, we are on main traveled roads. We point to the expe- 

 rience of all farmers in all countries for the last hundred 

 years ; we point to the fact that where once introduced it has 

 never been abandoned, until the soil refused to grow clover ; 

 we point to the fact that where it is once established, land uni- 

 formly advances in price, and the rate of interest as uniformly 

 falls ; we point to the fact that where it is once established 

 diversification of industry naturally follows. For example, 

 the great dairy interest is confined almost wholly to the regions 

 where the clovers and other tame grasses have proved a suc- 

 cess. Creameries have been built by the score in advance of 

 the grass and clovers, and only in rare instances have they 

 succeeded beyond the white, red and crimson of the clover 

 fields. While it is true that there is a natural limit to the 

 tame grass belt, it is also true, and we call attention to the 

 well known fact, that the clovers have a wider Western range 

 than any of the other cultivated grasses, and, as we have 

 already shown, where clover ends, alfalfa begins. Where, by 

 reason of the unsuitable subsoil, it is impossible to grow 

 alfalfa, other legumes, such, for instance, as the soy v bean, 

 will be found to take its place. The necessity of the intro- 

 duction of some legume that will supply the place of the 

 clovers and alfalfa in semi-arid regions is so urgent, or will 

 be in a few years, that every clime will be searched by enter- 

 prising farmers and experiment stations to find something 

 that will meet the want. The right plant will be found when 

 it is needed, just as the right man appears in every great 

 crisis of a nation. 



Again, any "way out," especially for the Western farmer, 



