85 



and to a considerable extent in other parts of Europe. It has been in- 

 troduced into several of the countries of South America, ;uul on the 

 pampas of Buenos Ayres it has escaped from cultivation and <:: 

 tensively in a wild state. Though known for a loug.time ia the United 

 States, alfalfa is not yet cultivated to the extent that it should be. 



In the Southern States east of the Mississippi it is especially dcsirr- 

 able that its merits should be better known. . The climate of that sec- 

 tion is nearly as favorable to its growth as that of southern Califoi ; 

 but much of its soil less suitable, hence reports from different localities 

 vary somewhat as to its value. 



Climate. Alfalfa is less hardy than red clover, and is adapted to a 

 milder climate ; still, it has stood the winter safely as far north as Ver- 

 mont, New York, and Michigan, though farther west, where less pro- 

 tected by snow, it winter kills more or less even as far south as Texas. 

 The young plants are very susceptible to frosts, and the mature plants, 

 if not killed by the cold winters of the Northern States, are so weakened 

 that they endure there for a much shorter period than in milder cli- 

 mates. A cold of 25 degrees is said to kill the tops, but in the Southern 

 States the plant quickly recovers from the effect of frost and grows most 

 of the winter. In the Northern States, even where it endured the win- 

 ter, the yield is so much less than at the South that it has little or no 

 advantage over the common red clover. Farther south, however, even 

 where both may be grown, alfalfa is often preferred, not only for its 

 larger yield, but also for its perennial character. Alfalfa is especially 

 adapted to dry climates, and withstands drought much better than or- 

 dinary clovers. 



Soil. Although alfalfa improves the fertility of the soil, it must have 

 a rich soil to start with, and it therefore is of little value as a renovater 

 of worn-out lands. It prefers sandy soils, if fertile. The failure on 

 sandy soils in the East and the South has been mainly due to the lack 

 of fertility to give the young plants a good start and enable them to 

 become deeply rooted before the advent of drought. On this account it 

 usually thrives best on rich bottom-lauds. Lands that are tenacious 

 and hold water are not adapted to its culture unless well drained. Most 

 of the lands in the West upon which it is grown successfully have a 

 permeable subsoil. When the soil permits, its roots penetrate to a great 

 depth. Cases have frequently been observed of their reaching a depth 

 of 12 or 15 feet, and depths of more than 20 feet have been reported. 

 Hence, after the plant is established, the character of the subsoil is of 

 more importance than that of the surface. 



Culture. Sow at anytime that the ground is in suitable condition, 

 and when there will be time for the plants to become well established 

 before they are subjected either to drought or extreme cold. In the 

 Northern States the month of May will be about the right time. Far- 

 ther south, in the latitude of northern Mississippi, September is prob- 

 ably the best month, and in the extreme South, or in the warm valleys 



