John W. Carlson
Diamonds in the Dust: John W. Carlson's Alfalfa Seed Research BY VIRGINIA C. PARKER
as the rose is a prophecy familiar to Utahns. The Utah desert did blossom, but not with roses. The humble alfalfa plant, whose Arabic name means "horse fodder," helped to create prosperity for the agrarian settlers. As narrative history, the dramatic story of the successful research to produce alfalfa seed in Utah has been confined to scientific literature. Yet, the significance of this plant in the state's agricultural history warrants a broader appreciation and acknowledgment of the economic impact of alfalfa seed production in Utah. John WTilford Carlson devoted most of his working life to alfalfa seed. His interest began on a dark winter day in Sweden in 1917 when as a young man he visited the university at Lund. He determined in cold,
/ V N D THE DESERT SHALL BLOSSOM
Mrs. Parker, a daughter of John W. Carlson, lives in Oroville, California.
