HISTORY. 59 



land was badly drained and fields were ruined by 

 not being c.ut at the proper time. Thus the enthu- 

 siasts gradually became discouraged and it became 

 a settled belief that lucerne could not profitably be 

 grown in eastern America outside of a few re- 

 stricted neighborhoods. As indicating the sentiment 

 of the friends of alfalfa in those days we quote a 

 letter published in the 1 1 American Farmer ' ' of 1823, 

 the letter copied from the "New Brunswick Times. " 

 The method of sowing advised is curious, to sow in 

 the spring with fall rye, and there may be a hint in 

 this for others living today in similar conditions. 

 Note the excessive price of the seed 50c per Jb., or 

 $30 per bushel. The letter written by " A New Jer- 

 sey Farmer ' ' follows : 



It may materially promote the interests of agriculture to offer 

 through. the medium of your paper a few remarks on the culture 

 of lucerne. This article (frequently denominated French clover), 

 I have found by experience to be not only one of the most con- 

 venient, but also the most profitable of any grass which can be 

 cultivated. It vegetates quicker in the spring than any other 

 grass, it resists the effects of drouths, it may be cut four or five 

 times in the course of the season, and it will endure for at least 

 twelve years without being renewed. Of all other grass it is the 

 most profitable for soiling. I am fully of opinion that one acre 

 properly got in would be sufficient to maintain six head of cattle, 

 from the first of May until November, for before it can be cut 

 down in this way, the first part of it will be reacry for the scythe. 

 English writers have recommended the drill system for this arti- 

 cle, but in this climate I have found this to be entirely fallacious. 

 The proper mode to be adopted is to have your land in good order, 

 to sow it broadcast, and to get the seed in during the month of 

 April or May. The plan I would recommend would be to sow 

 fall rye at the rate of 15 to 20 pounds to the acre with it. The 

 effect of this is that the rye vegetates quickly, and serves as a 

 nurse to the young grass against the heat of the scorching sun, 

 and by the time the grass attains sufficient strength to protect 

 itself, say in four or five weeks, the rye withers and apparently 



