GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 211 



by the change in soil and climate. We find, by consulting the most authentic sources, that 

 this particular plant has been known and cultivated from time immemorial, and that it was 

 brought from Media to Greece in the time of Darius, about five hundred years before Christ; 

 its cultivation afterwards extending to the Romans and through them to the south of France, 

 where it has ever since continued to be cultivated as a forage-plant. It is a plant allied to 

 the clover family. Loudon describes it as &quot;a deep-rooting perennial plant, sending up numerous 

 small and clover-like shoots, with blue or violet spikes of flowers.&quot; He speaks of it also as a 

 native of the south of Europe, of unknown antiquity in Spain, France, and Italy, but exten 

 sively grown also in Asia, and the province of Lima, South America. Columella also speaks 

 of it as the choicest of all fodder-plants, because it continues to yield for many years without 

 being renewed, and affords from four to six crops during the year. Pliny writes of it with 

 the utmost enthusiasm; he says: &quot;So superior are its qualities that a single sowing will last 

 for more than thirty years. It resembles trefoil in appearance, but the stalk and leaves are 

 articulated. The longer it grows in the stalk the narrower is the leaf.&quot; His directions for 

 sowing and cultivating it are precisely the same as are laid down and practiced at the present 

 day, in every essential respect. 



Botanists describe it as having an erect, smooth, branching stem; the leaflets in threes; 

 obovate, oblong, and toothed. The roots are long, and have been traced to the depth of 

 thirteen feet by the side of a sand-pit. They grow large, like those of the carrot, having 

 rootlets shooting off from the main root. A plant sending up numerous tall and slender, 

 clover-like shoots, with spikes of blue or violet-colored flowers; flowering in July. It is 

 extensively cultivated in Chili, and was introduced from thence into California; large supplies 

 of seed are also still obtained from that source. It is now being considerably cultivated in 

 California, as well as other &quot;Western and Southern States. 



Talue of Lucerne or Alfalfa as a Forage-Plant. The true value of alfalfa has 

 been already pretty well tested in this country, although it has not received much attention until 

 within a few years past. It was, however, introduced here about the year 1800. It is said by 

 those who have experimented and tested its real worth, that it is one of the best forage-plants 

 known. Its age is certainly in its favor, for if a plant can outlive the centuries in popularity 

 and fame, it certainly must possess considerable merit ! 



Mr. Loudon says of its use in Europe: &quot; The principal and most advantageous practice 

 is that of soiling horses, neat-cattle, and hogs; but as a dry fodder it is also capable of afford 

 ing much assistance ; and as an early food for ewes and lambs, may be of great value in parti 

 cular cases.- All agree in extolling it as food for cows, whether in a green or dried state. It 

 is said to be much superior to clover, both in increasing the milk and butter, and in improving 

 its flavor. In its use in a green state care is necessary not to give the animal too much at a 

 time, especially when it is moist, as they may be hoven or blown with it, in the same way as 

 with clover and other green food of luxuriant growth.&quot; 



Mr. Wycoff says : &quot; For milch cows it is superior to any other hay. It excites the secre 

 tions.&quot; He thinks that to make good hay for this purpose, it should not be cut before it has 

 been in bloom ten days. He states that when grazed by cattle and sheep in the spring, 

 while it is growing rapidly and is so abundant that they can gorge themselves quickly, it 

 sometimes gives them the &quot;hoven or colic,&quot; with fatal consequences. When grazed closely, 

 no such evil occurs. He represents that it is benefited by being grazed moderately, as soon 

 as the growth is sufficient and dry enough, and that cows are the best with which to graze it 

 the first year. Mr. C. Reed, former President of the California State Board of Agriculture, 

 says, that if cut when it is in full bloom it makes hay of good quality for stock of all kinds, 

 biit especially for milch cows; and that, according to the testimony of experienced dairymen, 

 cows that are taken from the native grasses and pastured on it will increase the milk, butter, 

 and cheese product from 60 to 70 per cent.; and that, according to the opinion of the best 

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