FORAGE LEGUMINOS/E 285 



Medicago sativa (Herb). — Lucerne is a forage plant which is valued 

 very highl;,- in Europe; it is a native of the country of the Medes, 

 hence the name Medicago sativa {media). It is indigenous to Europe 

 and has spread to all sub-tropical countries, where its success varies 

 according to climate and cultural conditions. 



It is cultivated in India, Hawaii, Australia, and notwithstanding 

 its varying success in these different countries it still remains a forage 

 plant of considerable interest. 



This plant is sown at the commencement of the wet season. In 

 order to obtain a good crop the soil must be deep, well drained, and 

 free from ]3lant growth. Owing to the depth to which the roots pene- 

 trate and the considerable size of the root-system, lucerne is able to 

 withstand a considerable amount of drought and may live for several 

 years. Wet soils are disastrous to this plant; the soil should be 

 sufficiently porous to preclude the accumulation of water, which would 

 injure the growth. 



Considerable care should be exercised in selecting the seeds owing 

 to the occurrence among them of those of a parasitic plant which is 

 most injurious to the lucerne. The ciuantity per hectare varies accord- 

 ing to the spacing of the rows and the method of sowing. 



Flowering occurs five or si.\ weeks after sowing, and reaping is 

 begun immediately. Usually five to six crops are cut a year, but this 

 number may vary according to local conditions. In Hawaii ;hey 

 reckon annually on from 24 to 48 tons of green forage per hectare, and 

 according to M. Pond, the quantity of hay scarcely ever exceeds 

 i6i tons per hectare. In India, on the Poona farm, one of the best 

 results obtained was 38 tons of green fodder. 



There are several varieties of lucerne, the chief one, Medicago 

 sativa, being commonly known as Alfalfa. 



M. Krauss, of Hawaii, gives their composition to be as follows : — 



Water ... ... ... ... ... 74-45 per ctnt. 



Ash ... ... ... ... ... 2-87 



Cellulose ... ... ... ... ... 7'47 -. 



Fat ... ... ... ... 0-42 



Non-nitrogenous matter ... ... ... 8*75 ,, 



Nitrogenous matter ... ... ... ... 604 ,, 



100 00 



According to the same authority, the ash of 1,000 lb. of natural 

 substance contains : — 



Nitrogen ... ... ... ... ... 9 lb. 7 oz. 



Pho.sphoric acid... ... ... ... ... 2 ,, 3 ,, 



Potash... ... ... ... ... ... 6 ,, 3 ,, 



Lime ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 ,, 4 ,, 



This forage also occurs in India, and analyses have been made by 

 Dr. Leather. We see that it contains less nitrogen and is less fibrous 

 than thnt from Hawaii or Mauritius. 



