212 THE AMERICAN FARMER 



sheep -growers, sheep grazed on it in a constant green condition will be entirely free from the 

 diseases of the skin so prevalent in California. 



One writer speaks of a farmer keeping four horses on an acre of it from the first of May 

 till the first of October. The result of its cultivation in England is thus described : 



A field of eleven acres, sown with twenty pounds of seed to the acre, was first mowed, 

 having attained proper growth; it was then sown with thirty bushels of soot per acre, after 

 which it produced two other mowings. In the following year a part of the field was again 

 manured, and the first mowing was made on the twenty -third of May. This supported thirty 

 horses for seven weeks, with a small addition of oats; the second mowing supported twenty 

 horses entirely for seven weeks; the third mowing supported twenty horses for six weeks 

 with the addition of a small amount of oats. The next year the first mowing supported thirty- 

 five horses eight weeks with a small addition of oats; the second mowing supported nearly 

 the same number for the same length of time. Again: A field of eight acres of sandy soil, 

 witli dry, sandy loam for a sub-soil, after three years growth (mowing beginning May 24th), 

 gave entire support to thirty horses for six weeks, keeping them in good condition and 

 health, with constant employment; the second mowing, which was commenced July 3d, fed 

 twenty horses for six weeks; the third mowing, beginning September 15th, supported thirty 

 horses fourteen days, after which the autumnal feeding with sheep was equivalent in value to 

 the expense of cleaning, etc. ; in the previous spring, Mr. Reed, of California, states that a 

 farm in Bakersville, in that State, containing one hundred and thirty-five acres, was let on 

 shares; sixty acres were in alfalfa, five in vineyard or orchard, and the remaining seventy in 

 timber or uncultivated. A part of the alfalfa was cut for hay, a Qart pastured by twenty 

 cows, from which the milk was sold for fifty cents per gallon, and a part let for pasturage at 

 $2.50 per month per head. The proprietor reports that the net profits of the farm 

 amounted to $3,500, or nearly 26 per cent, of its value at $100 per acre, with less than half 

 in cultivation. 



Manner of Cultivating Lucerne or Alfalfa. In cultivating this plant it must 

 be remembered that it is a native of a warm climate ; hence, in northern climates it will be 

 well to select those localities for sowing that are sheltered and warm. A southerly or south 

 easterly slope is desirable for the purpose. Cold, clayey sub-soils, that retain water, will utterly 

 exterminate it. It has a long root, hence the sub-soil must be of such a nature that it can be 

 penetrated by it. It must have a deep, loamy soil, rich and free from weeds. The soil must 

 be well pulverized and mellow, deep plowing being very essential. A want of such tillage 

 has caused many a failure in the crop. Having prepared the ground properly, the seed is 

 sown in drills of from fifteen to eighteen inches apart, in quantity of from sixteen to eighteen 

 pounds to the acre, according to the nature of the soil. Frequently a much larger quantity 

 is sown, but on a good soil well prepared the above quantity will be sufficient. 



It is sometimes sown broadcast, but drills are preferred, as it admits of better cultivation 

 in keeping down the weeds, which are apt to be, at first, very troublesome. 



, The soil to which alfalfa is adapted must contain a sufficient supply of lime, as will be 

 seen by the following analysis of the ash of this plant by Sprengel : 



Potash, 14.03 



Soda, 6.44 



Lime, 50.57 



Magnesia, ......... 3.64 



Oxide of iron, alumina, etc., . . 0.63 



Phosphoric acid, . . . . . . . 13.68 



Sulphuric acid, . . . . . . . 4.32 



Chlorine, ........ 3.23 



Silica, ......... 3.46 



100.00 

 Percentage of the entire ash, . . . . . . 9.55 



