The Delta independent., 1903-01-02
TA. Kinede.. .f Alf.lr.,


The KingdoR Of AlfalFA,
From the Field Il Farm.
New and great thoughts seem to be
agitating alike the farmer and the states
man. for while the politician would ex-
pand and enlarue his territory-would
extend the sphere Of his action and
would place the Fllipinos and all the ma.
tions OF tho earth under the paternal
care of his great mind and big heart, the
farmer on the other hand is also reach
ing out. He would diversity the pro.
ducts Of the earth; he too 10 clamoring
for more-something better than he now
has; some beautiful spot beyond his
borders that he may call the oasis OF his
pilgrimage, some outgrowth OF the soil
that may countervail that great COM
mand. in the sweat OF thy brow shalt
thou eat bread-some product OF the
vegetable world that he may crown
king.
The fieecy. staple. cotton. way down
south in Dixie. long has been standing
tip-toed on snowwhite throne. hoarsely
crying and vainly proclaiming itself
king. At the same time the golden
sheaves Of Kansas, clasping hands with
the great granaries OF the north, their
very walls bursting and falling beneath
their weight with deafening roar. are
laying claim to the kingdom OF the
vegetable universe. Ignoring all de-
mands, the course Of empire is still west
ward in it's flight. Out Of the arid.
parched regions Of the west. watered by
no vernal showers nor summer rains. the
king Of vegetation mounts the throne
under the prosaic name lucerne and
under the Arabic and more poetic nom
de plume alfalfa-wearing robe Of
tinted green and q crown OF royal purple
-exhaling fragrant perfumes and balmy
odors.. .alluring the prancing steed. the
cattle upon thousand hills and herds
OF swine. It.cries. Come unto me, all
70 that labor aud are heavy laden sad l
will give you rest.
1t tproclaims rest for the plow-share.
the hoe. tho self binder. and the spinning
and threshing machines. It is rescuing
from slavery the little boy and girl. who
in the production OF alfalfa. can perform
no other labor than eat and grow into
vigorous man and Womanhood. upon the
delicious honey-nectar for the tabled
gods-which the bees gather from it's
purple flowers. or drink the brimming
pals Of milk from the cows feeding
upon it's meadows. Moreover It bids
these little boys and girls. exposed to
the chilling blasts OF winter or swelter-
ing beneath the burning suns Of Septsm-
ber. come out Of the fields TO lind rest
in tho shadow of the school room and
ba.hs their sun-scorched brow and
quonch their thirst at tho fountain Of
learning.
This majestic western crowned king OF
plants has issued proclamation Of free.
dom to all implements except the keen
sickle blade. ever clipping tho green
sward from June to September. for -
soon a. the mower has clipped to ono
end OF the field the other will be ready.
Alfalfa is ono OF natures choicest gifts
to man. 1t 10 particularly adapted to
republican government. for it smiies
alike on rich and poor. 1t never dies
from old age. 1t places upon the mar
ket the symmetrical s horthorn at two
years. Upon It the Poland China may
be marketed at six months and upon
alfalfa pastures disdains all other food
and will either answer the summons for
grain with an audacious grunt or 60
bounding through tho purple flowers Of
the alfalfa with tail curled in ringlets
and beautiful festoops over its back.
Long mny King Alfalfa reign.