CHAPTEK IX 

 LUCERNE 



History and Production. — Lucerne is probably the first 

 plant to have been cultivated solely as a forage plant, and until 

 recently was the only crop cultivated for this purpose by 

 Asiatics. 



The natural habitat of Medicago sativa is along the coast 

 of the Mediterranean, and, as far as is known, it was first culti- 

 vated in this region. According to Pliny, it was brought from 

 Media to Greece in the year 470 B.C. 



The United States of America imported it from Chili in 

 1854. It is now more extensively grown in North America, 

 where it is known by its Arabic name, " alfalfa," than in any 

 continent. It is one of the most important of the world's 

 forage crops, being cultivated extensively in the United States 

 of America, Canada, Eussia, South-Eastern Europe, France, 

 Argentine, Australia, and South Africa. 



It was probably introduced into South Africa about 1860, 

 and soon assumed an important position in South African agri- 

 culture, particularly when, at a later date, the ostrich came 

 into domestication. In fact, the chief impetus to its cultiva- 

 tion was its generally recognised value as a feed for ostriches. 

 However, to-day, its outstanding nutritive and high-yielding 

 qualities have made it one of the most valued and widely 

 grown of the hay crops in the country. It is limited in the 

 Union to in'igable land of a suitable nature. 



It is safe to say that there is no other plant at present 

 known which will furnish so much valuable forage for so long 

 a term of years without re-seeding. A field at Glen Lynden, 

 Bedford, planted forty years ago, was still producing good 

 crops in 1921. 



Description and Classification. — Lucerne is a peren- 

 nial legume, making its chief growth in summer, and attaining 

 a height of 1^^ to 3 feet. When cut or grazed down, new stems 

 arise from buds at the crown, and increase in number with 



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