Lucerne in the Transvaal. 



BY JOSEPH BURTT-DAYY, F.L.S., 



(Government Botanist, Transvaal Department of Agriculture 



HISTORY AND DISTRIBUTION. 



1 IX 1 ERNE is one of the oldest of our farm crops to have 

 *^ been brought under domestication. It is a native of Cen- 

 tral Asia, and was intrcduced into Europe by the Persians 

 when they invaded Greece under Xerxes in 590 B.C. From 

 Greece it was carried into Italy and Sicily. In North Africa 

 it is known by its Arabic name of " alfalfa," which indicates that it 

 was introduced there from Arabia, during one of the several inva- 

 sions by the Arabs. Under the same name it was carried into Spain, 

 probably by the Moors. When the Spaniards conquered, and set- 

 tled in, Mexico and Chile, they took alfalfa with them, and it soon 

 became one of their most important crops. From Mexico or Chile 

 then* carried it into California. The date of its introduction into- 

 Argentina is not clear, but it has not been grown on the present 

 large scale for more than about 20 years ; it is probable, however, 

 that it was grown there on a smaller scale for many years before. 



California and the other South-western States of North America, 

 Argentina and Mexico are now the largest growers of lucerne. It 

 is also produced successfully in parts of Australia, especially along 

 the Hunter River and in the Tamworth District. 



CLIMATE. , 



It is thus evident, from the history and distribution of lucerne, 

 that it is primarily a crop of warm temperature countries. A closer 

 inspection of the areas of cultivation also shows that it is grown 

 most successfully in arid and semi-arid countries, often on the bor- 

 ders of deserts, as well as actually within them where irrigation 

 can be applied. In the Colorado Desert of Southern California, 

 where the average rainfall is only two inches per annum, crops of 

 lucerne six feet in height are secured under irrigation. 



Lucerne also thrives both in colder and more humid climates, 

 being grown in England, in Canada, and in the North-eastern 



