214 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



It has been found that alfalfa is well adapted to the soil and climate of the Southern 

 States. Reports from Texas state that it is admirably adapted to the black prairie-soil of 

 that region. It withstands well the drought of summer and cold of winter, keeping green 

 the year round. Hon. B. G. &quot;Wall, Commissioner of State Board of Agriculture in Mississ 

 ippi, gives the following respecting its culture in that section: &quot;In well-prepared, rich, 

 sandy loam, it succeeds remarkably, sending down its long roots many feet into the sub-soil, 

 drawing up moisture from below; and thus will thrive where other plants are drooping from 

 drought. In this respect it is far superior to clover; for the latter, a suitable surface soil is 

 of equal importance with the sub-soil, but for lucerne, a suitable sub-soil is absolutely neces 

 sary, as the roots are not fibrous. The enormous quantity of roots, penetrating the ground 

 to the depth of several feet, prepares the land for increased production. It derives the larger 

 portion of its sustenance from the atmosphere, and stores it up in its roots, so that as a fertil 

 izer it ranks high. 



The soil is not only fertilized to the amount of several tons of roots, but it is mellowed 

 from the mechanical displacement of the soil and the admixture of decayed vegetable matter. 



The seeds of lucerne are yellow, when good ; if brown they have received too much 

 heat, and if light, it indicates they were saved too green. The time of sowing is the same 

 with the other species of clover, in the spring time. It should be sown in drills and cultr 

 vated the first year, so as to keep down the weeds. It is easily smothered out by weeds, when 

 it first comes up. 



&quot;When properly managed, the number of cattle which can be kept in good condition on an 

 acre of lucerne, during the whole season, exceeds belief. It is no sooner mown than it pushes 

 out fresh shoots, and wonderful as the growth of clover sometimes is, that of lucerne is much 

 more rapid. In the dryest and most sultry weather, when every blade of grass droops for 

 want of moisture, lucerne holds out its stem fresh and green as in the genial spring. The 

 first year it is apt to be troubled by the presence of weeds, as it is slow in making a start ; let 

 the weeds be exterminated for that time, and afterwards no fears need be entertained on that 

 subject, as it will take full possession of the ground.&quot; 



Mr. Read, of California, also says that alfalfa has two characteristics which especially 

 adapt it to regions subject to long-continued hot weather. These are its very prolific and 

 rapid growth, by which, after being cut, it very quickly shields the surface by a thick, green 

 coat, and the astonishing depth to which it sends down its long carrot-shaped root. In the 

 Kern Valley, Cal., the roots go down to the water-line, which is from twelve to twenty feet 

 below the surface. It was found that where a freshet had exposed a perpendicular section of 

 an alfalfa field, the roots extended down to the water-line, which was from twelve to twenty 

 feet below the surface. In this country, the climate is generally favorable to its production 

 from the extreme south to the latitude of Washington. It presents a remarkably luxuriant 

 growth in the grounds of the Department of Agriculture. Farther north it thrives well only 

 in favorable localities. It is reported as doing well in Nevada and Nebraska, also in Utah 

 and Colorado Territories. It will not thrive in a compact clay soil, or any shallow soil with 

 a hard-pan subsoil. It prefers a rich sandy loam, well drained, with a permeable subsoil. 

 The seed requires a shallow covering, after deep and thorough pulverization of the soil. 

 Broadcasting and drilling are both practiced, but if the land is foul, the latter mode is decid 

 edly preferable, as it admits of careful culture until the crop is able to displace the weeds. 



Although experiments have been repaatedly tried, with considerable success, to cultivate 

 alfalfa in New England, yet we scarcely believe it will prove an entire success, as the winters 

 are too severe. It being a native of a warm climate, it thrives best in a somewhat warmer 

 temperature than New England could give it. The Southern and Southwestern states have in 

 it an exceedingly valuable forage-plant, owing to its nutrition, its luxuriant and rapid growth, 

 as well as the ease with which it may be cultivated when once started. And we are of the 

 opinion that it will continue to be more highly valued the longer it is cultivated. 



