The Ordway new era., 1914-01-02

making amends for being the cause
of mans expulsion from Eden. Alfal-
ia goes back to the infancy of the
world. God made it on the third day
of Creation. 1t has ever been good
for man and beast. 1t was alfalfa
salad upon which Nebuchadnezzar
fed, its foraging in the fields with
the brutes was physical and moral
tonic for the Bible says that after
seven years of browsing in the alfalfa
pastures, he became greater king
with the glory of his kingdom. his
honor and brightness restored.
The benefits that will come to the
American farmer from studies of al
falfa, only are worth more than the
cost of all the agricultural colleges
in the land. 1t is delusion to think
that science is not practical. that it
will not pay. Those who experiment
the most. who study the most, reap
the most dollars. A good agricultural
paper pays the largest dividends of
any investment farmer can make.
The bulletins issued by the agricul-
tural department at Washington and
by the various agricultural colleges
of the state, are often vertible pre-
scriptions of gold to the farmer. who
studies and follows them. knowledge
is power everywhere.
The farmer who does not take ad-
vantage of the investigations and ex-
periments of state and nation, is
stupid. He is throwing away dia-
monds and gold; he is not farmer.
he is a fool. 1t is the Burbanks and
not the kings of Wall street who are
the benefactors. Those who develop
a new or improve an old variety OF
fruit, food or fodder, are greater than
those who rule in the capitol, or who
by manipulation and combination.
gather billions of tainted dollars.
From the Missouri to the Pacific
is the true land of alfalfa. Its pro-
motion is matter of national con-
cern. 1t spreads the domain of pos
sible homes. 1t builds houses OF
comfort and great barns. 1t raises the
grade of the COW, sheep, and the pig
1t is the crop that never fails. it
never wants for market. The home
stock pens make an ever-pressing and
profitable demand upon the supply.
The farmer that consumes the pro-
| duct of his meadow. has found the
sure road to prosperity. Alfalfa
lends itself to this home use. 1t is
the "Fortuna's Purse" of modern ag-
riculture. 1t pays debts. lifts mort
cages; it sends Sam to College and
Mary to the Normal school. 1t helps
mother in hundred ways and puts
a flush of independence, if not i'm
pudence in dads eyes. 1t relieves the
tension of unending toll. improves
the place and the stock. adding to
the returns from creamery and stock
yard. makes the farmer depositor,
and not debtor at the bank. 1t buys
pianos. carriages and books for the
family. it widens their outlook and
links the farm with neighbers and
the world. What the Bessemer pat
ent was to the iron industry gen
Grafton ago. alfalfa promises to be to
the western farmer. AS an invest
ment it is better and safer than Wall
street water or brewery stock. Alfalfa
is the best rotation crop; it restores
the nitrogen of which grain and beets
rob the soil, and make it as rich
as before the plow turned the virgin
sod.
The alfalfa field has its asthetic
virtues, the emerald green of its
fields rests the eye and feeds the
nerves as we travel through thirsty
land, 1t has charm for man and all
living things. In its verdant aisles
the dove and the meadow lark build
their nests. To the burrying mole
and the field mice and insects of the
earth its waving mass is mighty
forest, bees prefer its blossom to
roses, birds sing sweeter as they wing
over the fragrant field. An alfalfa
fed Colorado lamb brings the highest
price and gives the sweetest meat
that has touched the palate of man
since he ceased to be vegetarian.
Had Moses eaten Colorado alfalfa
and pea fed pork he would. like
Lambs Chinaman. become convert
of roast pig and the Bible would
have carried commcndation and not
prohibition of swine. We are with
Pinchot when he says, Save the
tree" but we want the settler to
have the trceless area, we would have
him reforcst it with appletrees and