BERSEEM, OR EGYPTIAN CLOVER. 47 



Berseein is genenilly sow n in tlic moiitlis of October and Novcnibor, 

 follovvinji:, as a rule, the corn or cotton ci-op, the <lah' of sowini^ coii- 

 so(|n(Mitly being (lei)en(b'nt on llie removal of these crops. As the 

 weatluM" is now daily beconiiiii;' cooler, the eai'lier the berseein is sown 

 the sliorter tlie i)eri()d whicli ela[)ses l)efore tlie first cuttiniij or j;i"azing 

 is obtained, and tlie earlier this is obtained the better, as it diminishes 

 tlie period tlurini;' Avhich animals have to be fed on dry I'ood. The 

 first j^razinj;: when early can be sold for a considerable sum, as much 

 as $15 per aci'e in favored disti'icts. When sown after a coin or a 

 cotton crop, the seecl is often sown anionii: the standing; crop einiil or 

 ten days before the corn crop is removed. A heavy watering' is j^iven 

 ami the see<l is then broadcasted immediately. It may be sown in a 

 similar manner anionu: the stand in jj; cotton ))lants. Hy these means 

 there is a i;ain of scncral days ami the yoiin.n' clover will be estab- 

 lished before the grain or liber croj) is removeil. It is becoming more 

 common now, however, to plow the land after the removal of IIm^ corn 

 or cotton crop. The cotton ridges or beds are split down the middle 

 with one i)assage of the i)low, the land heavily watered, and the ber- 

 seem seed broadcasted immediately. The soil is not allowed to 

 become dry, but the seed is scattered over the surface while the water 

 is still on the land, when, owing to its weight, it at once sinks. The 

 amount of seed used varies from 7ii to 80 pounds per acre. (4ermi- 

 nation takes place in two or three days, and if llie weather is warm 

 the plants make rapid growth. 



Three waterings are generally given pnnions to the first cutting or 

 grazing, wliich is obtained from fifty to seventy-five days after sowing, 

 deijending to a great extent on the date of the latter. I'he number 

 and frequency of waterings deijend on soil and climate to a certain 

 extent, but two waterings are given between the first two cuttings, 

 and generally two between the second and third and the third and 

 fourth — a total of eight or nine or even ten waterings. On an average 

 three good cuttings or grazings are obtained, while a fourth may or 

 may not be obtained, depending on the date of sowing. In any case 

 it is little in comparison with previous ones. The fourth cutting is 

 generally the one left for seed. Of the latter, 6 or 7 l)ushels are 

 obtained on good average land. The first and second crops will yield 

 about 8 tons of green fodder; subsequent ones, less. If sown late in 

 October, the first crop will be ready at the end of December, the 

 second early in March, the third from the middle to end of April, 

 and a light fourth crop, either for feeding or for seed, at tlie end of 

 May or early in June. Hay is frequently made from berseem, about 

 5 tons of the latter giving 1 ton. 



Berseem is fed by tethering animals on the ground by the fore feet, 

 the pegs being moved on as the}^ have eaten those plants within their 

 immediate reach. The luxuriance is sometimes so great that the long 

 lines of bullocks seem to be feeding against a solid wall of forage which 

 reaches almost up to their briskets. A few days are allowed to elapse 



