353 MEDICAGO. 



After repeated trials on a small scale the writer thinks it of 

 no value for Michigan. Prof. Gulley is of the same opinion in 

 reference to Mississippi. 



Several other species of true clovers are often met with and 

 sometimes cultivated with more or less success, but we do not 

 intend to treat the subject exhaustively. 



MEDICAGO, L. MEDICK. 



Herbs with pinnately 3-f oliolate leaves ; leaflets usually toothed ; 

 stipules adhering to the peliote. Flowers small, in short spikes, 

 or loose heads, violet or yellow. Calyx-ieeih. 5, nearly equal, 

 keel obtuse, shorter than the wings. Stamens diadelphous, the 

 upi^er one free ; anthers uniform. Pod small, with few seeds, 

 very much curved, or spirally twisted, indehiscent, often spiny. 



Found in Europe, W. Asia, N. Africa, introduced into N. 

 America. 



M. sativa, L. Lucerne, Alfalfa, Purple Medick, Chilian 

 CloYcr, French Clover, Spanish Trefoil.— An upright, deeply 

 rooting, smooth perennial, 1-2^ ft. high. Leaflets obovate-ob- 

 long, toothed, tip notched. Flowers in a short dense raceme, 

 blue or purple; peduncles longer than the leaves. Pod ^ in. 

 diam., spirally twisted. Origin not certainly knoAvn ; now culti- 

 vated in Southern Europe and America. 



The common French name is Lucerne ; the Spanish name for 

 the same species is Alfalfa, a name which followed the plant 

 into South America and thence to Mexico and California and 

 the dry countries this side. 



It was known and prized by the Greeks and Romans 3,500 

 years ago, and was spoken of by Columella as the most valuable 

 plant for fodder. 



To begin with, there are a few things which the inquirer 

 should not fail to keep constantly in mind. Lucerne is ''a child 

 of the Hun ; " likes a rich loam or sand with a deep porous sub- 



