246 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



This is 6% interest on $60,000. Thus the land 

 yields return on a valuation of $200 per acre. 



Are these fanciful figures'? Not at all, but plain 

 matter of fact business. And while we are estimat- 

 ing profits by sale of hay and grain, we do this only 

 because it is the easily-done thing, urging all along 

 that the hay and grain be fed on the farm and the 

 manure returned to the land, when net profits will 

 often be much greater than indicated above. 



Such Profits in Actual Practice. — And are there 

 many farms now ready to yield corn and alfalfa in 

 this fashion? No. Most farms need thorough un- 

 der-draining first. Hardly any of Illinois is well 

 enough drained for alfalfa, neither is much of In- 

 diana or Ohio. Iowa has more dry land, perhaps. 

 Nearly any farm that a man might choose to make 

 into an alfalfa and corn farm would need much work 

 before he could safely expect any such returns. He 

 can find an acre, or a field that is all right ; let him 

 then determine that ere he is thro-ug'h with the thing 

 it will all of it be good enough. Make it a legacy to 

 the children to leave them a farm so well under- 

 drained, 80 well limed, if lime is needed, so fertile 

 that they can realize these results. It is easy ; there 

 is no step to be found out ; the way is clear and plain 

 and the land will pay for the work as you go on. 



Rotation in the Dairy Region. — In northern Ohio, 

 Illinois, Wisconsin and New York dairying is a great 

 business. Here alfalfa is especially desirable and 

 so is silage corn. Here also potatoes thrive and are 



