ALFALFA. 



Since the methods of producing this crop, and the conditions 

 under which it promises to be successful are not yet generally 

 understood, it is the plan to present in this paper first, a brief 

 general discussion of the characteristics and value of the crop; 

 second, the results of the most recent experiments on the sta- 

 tion grounds; third, results obtained by farmers who have 

 been growing the crop in co-operation with the station; and 

 fourth, brief general directions based upon long-continued ex- 

 periments for starting and managing the crop. 



' Characteristics and Value of Alfalfa. 

 Alfalfa is an exceptionally deep-rooted legume, and under 

 the best conditions it is long lived. Like other legumes it 

 has the capacity, under the right conditions, of assimilating 

 nitrogen from the atmosphere, but until the root system and 

 the nodules which it bears are well developed its growth is greatly 

 promoted by the presence of readily assimilable nitrogen in the 

 soil. It is without doubt one of the most valuable forage 

 plants known to man. It has long been cultivated in various 

 parts of Asia and Europe, whence it was brought to Mexico 

 by the Spaniards, who took it with them to California and the 

 semi-arid portions of our southwestern States. During the past 

 fifteen or twenty years its culture has been steadily pushed 

 eastward, and it is now successfully grown in most parts of 

 the United States and in a few parts of Canada. In many 

 essentials and in feeding value alfalfa resembles the clovers; 

 and as these are so generally known its characteristics will be 

 perhaps best brought out by comparison. 



