rigation quite phenomenal.
Alfalfa was cut some six or seven times in the season; each time a heavy
crop. After taking cattle out of one pasture, then grazed bare, it was
only three weeks till the plant was in full growth again, in full
flower, two feet high and ready for the reception of more live stock.
The variety of animal life subsisting on alfalfa was extraordinary. All
kinds of domestic stock throve on it and liked it. In our field, besides
cattle, were geese, ducks, turkeys, rabbits and hares in thousands,
doves and quails in flocks, and gophers innumerable; frogs, toads, rats
and mice; while bees, wasps, butterflies and moths, and myriads of
other insects were simply pushing one another out of the way. It was a
wonderful study.

In Utah much difficulty was found in growing clover. This was accounted
for by the fact that there were no old maids in that polygamous country.
Old maids naturally were not allowed! And there being none, there were
of course no cats to kill the mice that eat the bumble-bees' nests;
thus, no bumble-bees to fertilize it, therefore no clover. Old maids
have found their function.

Figs could not be grown successfully in California till the Smyrna wasp
had been imported to fertilize the flower.

And while talking of bees: on the Mississippi River bee-keepers are in
the habit of drifting their broods on rafts up the river, following the
advance of spring and thus securing fresh fields and pastures new of the
young spring blossoms; which is somewhat similar to the Chinaman's habit
of carrying his ducks (he does love ducks), thousands of them, on rafts
and boats up and down the broad Yangtse to wherever the richest grazing
and grub-infested beds may be found.

I should not forget to say that care must be used in putting cattle on
alfalfa. At some seasons it is more dangerous than at others. A number
of these steers "bloated," and I had to stick them with a knife promptly
to save their lives. A new experience to me, but I soon "caught on."

But something must be said about our little county town, San Juan,
county seat of Apache County in which we were located. St Johns
consisted of one general store, three or four saloons, a drug store, a
newspaper office, court-house, jail, etc. A small settlement of Mormons,
who confined themselves to farming on the narrow river bottom, and an
equal number of Mexicans, an idle and mischievous riffraff, though one
or two of them had considerable herds of