Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 749 



vantages with corn for fodder i^ that but one crop can ]:)e obtained, 

 and the season is far advanced before that one is ready. For this 

 reason many farmers tliinks it does nut ]>ay, which is a great mistake. 

 It slionkl be grown for a late feeding green crop, to increase the 

 income of tlie dairj' and to keep np the good conditic)n of the yonng 

 animals. Lucern {3£ed>cago sativa) is a legnniinons pla!it of great 

 antiqnity and color. It was a favorite of the Greek and of the Agri- 

 cola of the Roman empire. The French agriculturist esteems it highly, 

 and in our own C(Mmtry it M-ill doul)tless prove the sine qua uon ^vhcn 

 its rare qualities shall be genei-ally known. In South America it is 

 known as Alfalfa, a ditference only in name. It will grow in the 

 same climate and soil with red close, but needs stronger land, and, 

 being a native of southern Europe, requires, to perfect itself, more 

 sunshine and warmth. This peculiarity can be remedied to a consid- 

 erable extent by a rich soil, a warm exposure, and stimulating manures. 

 When furnished Avith these advantages, its rapid growth, and the 

 amount of lucern which can be taken off from a small piece of ground 

 is most astonishing. From four to six crops can be cut in one season 

 from the same land. For flesh forming and nutritive elements it is 

 superior to red clover, containing 50.7 parts, to 41.2 in clover. Like 

 clover, it covers the ground with a dense shade, thus enriching the 

 soil while tlie roots, strike down into the subsoil to the depth of seve- 

 ral feet, defying drouth, and leaving the land in admirable condition 

 for subsequent cultivation. Lucern resembles clover in appearance, 

 with a smaller leaf, and, if left to ripen, has more woody stem. I 

 would not recommend it to take the place of clover for general })ur- 

 poscs, but I do most emphatically indorse it for a soiling plant to 

 meet the great want of the dairyman and stockbreeder. For horses 

 it has special merits ; not being soft and washy they are not liable to 

 scour on it. It is perennial. Once get it rooted, and with a clean 

 soil it will thrive for years, yielding its successive burdens of rich- 

 ness. The seed is lai'ger than clover seed, and wlicn ripe and fresh, 

 glossy and yellow, as the sample shows. They can be obtained of 

 any iirst class dealer at fifty cents per pound. The crop may be 

 sowed with grain, rye being the l)est, but it is preferable to sow 

 alone ; from eight to ten [)onnds of seed to the acre. 3Ir. liobert 

 Gibson, the well known fn-mer aiid herdsman at Xew York Mills, 

 has had an cxten.sive api)earanco with tlie cultivation and feeding of 

 lucern, and may justly l^e called the veteran in its'introduction and 

 successful tillau'e in America. The large stock at Xew York Mills is 



