IpO GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



the " Universal." On light, sandy soil, such as in Florida, 

 a man could with ease run over two to three acres per 

 day. The labor entailed in this method of sowing Alfalfa 

 in drills is somewhat greater than when sown broadcast 

 in the usual way of grasses and clover, but there is no 

 question that it is by far the best and most profitable 

 plan, for it must be remembered that the plant is a hardy 

 ferennial, and is good for a crop for eight to ten years. 

 Moreover, the sowing in drills admits of the crop being 

 easily fertilized, if it is found necessary to do so; as all 

 that is necessary is to sow bone dust, superphosphates, 

 or other concentrated fertilizer between the rows, and 

 then stir it into the soil by the use of the wheel hoe. In 

 the ground of Mr. Bronson, of St. Augustine, Florida, he 

 found that the seed sown in the middle of October gave 

 him a crop fit to cut in three months after sowing; and 

 three heavy crops after, during the same year; and I 

 have little doubt that in that climate and soil, so congenial 

 to its growth, six heavy green crops could be cut annually ^ 

 after the plant is fairly established, if a moderate amount 

 of fertilizer were used, say 300 pounds of superphos- 

 phate or bone dust to the acre. 



Mr. William Crozier, of Northport, L. I., one of the 

 best known farmers and stock breeders in the vicinity of 

 New York, says that he has long considered Alfalfa one 

 of the best forage crops. He uses it always to feed his 

 milch cows and breeding ewes, particularly in preparing 

 them for exhibition at fairs, where he is known to be a 

 most successful competitor, and always takes along suffi- 

 cient Alfalfa hay to feed them on while there. Mr. Cro- 

 zier's system of culture is broadcast, and he uses some 

 fifteen or sixteen pounds of seed to the acre; but his land 

 is unusually clean and in a high state of cultivation, which 

 enables him to adopt the broadcast plan; but on the 



