LUCERNE. 141 



from this sub-species and sativa gives promise of making excel- 

 lent grazing lucernes, " giving a dense matted growth, a 

 single plant covering a surface of several square feet, and pre- 

 senting much the same general appearance as White Clover 

 (T. repens)." 



Varieties. 



Provence or Common. — Is a variety imported from 

 Provence, France. It is the best known and most commonly 

 grown variety in the Union. A small percentage of the flowers 

 are sometimes found to be variegated, but the great majority 

 are purple. It is generally classed as belonging to the species 

 sativa. The crowns are fairly close to the ground, and the 

 stems are not quite so erect as in some of the other varieties — 

 e.g., Peruvian. 



Hunter's Eiver and T.\mworth. — These are named after 

 the districts where the seed is produced in Australia. There is 

 practically no difference between these varieties, and both 

 probably originated from seed imported from Provence, as 

 they closely resemble the Provence variety. Under South 

 African conditions, however, they are slightly earlier in start- 

 ing their spring growth, and are said to be somewhat heavier 

 yielding. Their cultivation is, in fact, becoming popular in 

 the Union, and would become more so were it not that the 

 imported seed costs several shillings per pound as opposed 

 to less than a shilling for locally grown seed. 



Turkestan. — In appearance is very much like Provence, 

 and in America has given good results in cold, semi-arid parts. 

 In South Africa, however, it has not yielded as well as the 

 latter variety, and is slower in growth. 



Arabian. — Is a very hairy variety, with large leaflets. It 

 is of very rapid grcAvth and relatively short-lived. In Cali- 

 fornia it has given up to twelve cuttings. However, by the 

 third year the stand starts to become sparse, and is generally 

 ploughed down by the fourth year. It is a very erect variety, 

 with exposed crowns, easily injured by close grazing. Being 

 more frost-resistant, it commences growth earlier than 

 Provence. 



Peruvian. — Is similar to Arabian, and its marked pubes- 

 cence gives it a 'bluish appearance. The crowns are very 

 exposed, and the stems strikingly erect though somewhat 

 coarse. The leaflets are large ; like Arabian, it has a long 

 growing season and short life ; lacks hardiness , and is easily 

 injured by grazing. 



