THE ALABAMA OPPORTUNITY. 77 



or four years. Albert Dillard, an ex-newspaper man and 

 a successful farmer, was the pioneer alfalfa grower, so far 

 as this county is concerned. Mr. Dillard first planted it, ^nd he 

 sang its praises so convincingly to his neighbors that many 

 became deeply interested in the growing of this fine forage. 

 Every year the alfalfa acreage about Montgomery has been 

 practically doubled. The largest grower is J. A. Barnes on 

 the Woodley Road. Mr. Barnes this year has about lOO acres 

 iv alfalfa. He has been steadily increasing his acreage of 

 alfalfa, and in doing this, steadily increasing the number of 

 cattle and their importance to their owner. 



This forage is now being grown on all the farms southeast 

 of the city where stock and cattle are being raised. It is the 

 forage plant on the Barnes place, the Brooks place, the Jones 

 place and the Hagan stock farm. It is a fine help in stock 

 raising. 



Mr. Barnes, like Mr. Dillard is a great admirer of the west- 

 ern forage plant. He is thoroughly versed in its nature, its 

 habits and the conditions under which it prospers best. He is 

 too, a great believer in its ultimate benefit to middle Alabama. 



"The advantages of alfalfa over Johnson grass and other 

 hay," says Mr. Barnes, "are numerous and convincing. In the 

 first place it requires practically no cultivation. Once plowed 

 in, one sowing of alfalfa will last for tw-enty years with an 

 occasional harrowing. Johnson grass has to be plowed every 

 two or three years. 



"Then the yield of alfalfa is at least 33 per cent greater than 

 the yield from the same amount of land planted in Johnson 

 grass'. In fact the increase will almost average one-half more 

 than the yield of Johnson grass. An acre of land that makes 

 a ton and a half of hay from Johnson grass will make three 

 tons of alfalfa hay. 



MUCH LARGER YIELD. 



"A ton of Johnson grass hay is worth now $10 to $11 a ton. 

 Alfalfa hay can be sold for $15 a ton easily. It is not difficult 

 to figure out which is the best money proposition. 



Vlt is not generally known, but it is a fact that alfalfa thrives 

 when planted on the same land with Johnson grass. The two 

 combined make an extremely fine stock food. Yhen the 



