Junior Naturalist Monthly. 297 



UNCLE JOHN'S LETTER ABOUT THE ALFALFA GARDENS. 



My Dear Boys and Girls: 



Do you know much about the alfalfa plant? Do you remember 

 that last spring we promised to send a packet of seed to each of you 

 who asked for it ? Did you send your name asking that you be served ? 

 We received the names of several thousand children asking for seed 

 and I am wondering whether you are one of them. If so, did you 

 sow the seed? Will you write me a letter telling me what became 

 of it? 



I am very fond of children's letters. Each year I receive more 

 than thirty thousand of them. I sometimes wonder whether there 

 is another man who is honored by so many letters from young people, 

 for I coimt it an honor to be so remembered. 



As large as that number is, I cannot spare one letter. I always 

 want a few more. All your letters are read and I take great pains 

 to answer all questions. If, by any oversight, you have been missed 

 I am sorry. I know what it costs a boy or girl to write a letter. I 

 never open one without feeling that the writer is a friend of mine, 

 otherwise he would not have expended so much hard work to write 

 it. 



School has now begim and of course you are very busy, and so is 

 your teacher. One of the best opportunities to write letters is in 

 school. Please ask your teacher whether you may not write me 

 during your language period. You may say that she may make 

 authors of all of you if she can, but I will do all I can to help you be- 

 come good letter wTiters. Ask her whether a letter to me may not 

 be a substitute for a composition. 



In your letter you may tell me your experience with alfalfa. Tell 

 me your failures as well as your successes. Even though you received 

 your seeds and did not sow them, tell me that. I shall never find 

 fault with you for telling me the truth. If you sowed the seed and 

 the plants did not do well, tell me that also. The plants may look 

 very small and uninteresting to you this year, but next year they 

 may surprise you. 



In some parts of the United States the alfalfa crop is of great value 

 and the loss of it would bring distress to many farmers. I am won- 

 dering whether the crop, as raised in all parts of our country, is not 

 worth more money than all the gold found in the Klondike, taking 

 the two year by year. I do not know how that may be. I am 

 wondering. Men by the thousand have gone to the gold mines and 

 endured many hardships and later returned with less money than 

 those who had remained at home and took care of their alfalfa. 



