HISTORY. 51 



soever grow fat with it because it is a remedy for sick cattle, 

 and a jugerum of it is abundantly sufficient for three horses the 

 whole year. It is sown as we shall hereafter direct. About the 

 beginning of October cut up the field wherein you design to sow 

 medic next spring and let it lie all winter to rot and grow crum- 

 bly. Then about the first of February plow it carefully a second 

 time and carry all the stones out of it, and break all clods. After 

 about the month of March plow it the third time and harrow it. 

 When you have thus manured the ground, make it in the manner 

 of a garden, into beds and divisions ten feet broad and fifty feet 

 long, so that it may be supplied by water with paths and there 

 may be an open access for weeders on both sides. Then throw 

 old dung upon it and sow in the latter end of April. Sow it in 

 such a proportion that a cyathus of seed may take up a place 10 

 feet long and 5 feet bread. After you have done this, let the 

 seeds that are thrown into the ground be presently covered with 

 earth with wooden rakes. This is a very great advantage to them 

 because they are very quickly burnt up with the sun. After 

 sowing, the place ought not to be touched with an iron tool, but 

 as I said it must be raked with wooden rakes, and weeded from 

 time to time lest any other kind of herb destroy the feeble medic. 

 You must cut the first crop of it somewhat later, after it has put 

 forth some of its seeds. Afterwards you are at liberty to cut it 

 down as tender and as young as you please after it has sprung up 

 and to give it to horses, but at first you must give it to them 

 more sparingly until they be accustomed to it, lest the novelty 

 of the fodder be hurtful to them, for it blow r s them and creates 

 much blood. Water it very often after you have cut it. Then 

 after a few days when it shall begin to sprout weed out of it all 

 plants of a different kind. When cultivated in this manner it 

 may be cut down six times in a year and it will last ten years. 



That instruction bears evidence of much famil- 

 iarity with the alfalfa plant. It must not be cut too 

 soon the first time, not till some seeds have formed. 

 It is true here that young alfalfa is destroyed often- 

 times if cut before the young shoots have put out 

 at the base of the stems. Xot having observed this 

 perhaps the old alfalfa growers judged by the state 

 of bloom or seeding when it should be cut. Note that 

 Columella says "it dungs the land." Thus early 

 they knew the practice of farming with legumes, 



