306 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



be cultivated solely for forage. Furthermore, it is the 

 only plant cultivated for such purpose by Asiatic peoples 

 until modern times. Its culture in Italy in the days of 

 the Roman Empire is referred to by Virgil, Columella 

 and Varro, and it was doubtless introduced into Spain in 

 imperial Roman days. In the sixteenth century . it was 

 introduced into France and southern Germany and from 

 thence to England at least as early as 1650. 



The early American colonists made many attempts to 

 cultivate the plant, but only in a few localities was any 

 decided success achieved. Its rapid development in the 

 United States dates from 1854, when it was introduced 

 into California from Chile. 



370. Origin of the common names. The name alfalfa 

 is of Arabian origin, adopted and modified by the Spanish. 

 By different authorities the Arabian word is variously 

 spelt, with, or without the prefix el or al, thus, fisfisat, 

 isjast, elkasab, alfafa, alfasajat. The Arabian designations 

 are probably modifications of the Persian name uspust, 

 aspest or isfist. The word alfalfa is now used almost 

 exclusively in the United States. 



In most countries, however, the name lucern is in 

 common usage. According to some authorities the name 

 is derived from the valley of Lucerna in northwestern 

 Italy. De Candolle, however, considers it was probably 

 derived from its local name in the south of France, laou- 

 zerdo, apparently a corruption of the Catalonian name 

 userdas. Historical evidence indicates that the plant 

 was introduced into France from Spain and not from Italy. 

 The word luzerne was apparently, first recorded in 1587 

 by Dalechamps who also gives the form luzert. 



The name medick is derived direct!}* from the Greek 

 Medicai and Latin Medico., so called because introduced 



