MISCELLANEOUS VARIETIES OF CLOVER 335 



tudes, as it does not reach a maximum growth for 

 several years after the seed has been sown. But 

 in mild latitudes, it may be found practicable to 

 introduce it into short rotations, like other alfalfa 

 (see page 135), and on land that is too sandy to 

 grow the common variety in the best form. 



Much of wdiat has been said about the preparation 

 of the soil for common alfalfa will equally apply to 

 the' preparation of the same for sand lucerne. ( See 

 page 137.) But when the latter is sown on sandy 

 or gravelly land, a moist condition of the seed-bed 

 at the time of sowing is even more important than 

 when sowing common alfalfa under ordinary con- 

 ditions. 



The same methods of sowing the seed will be 

 in order as are suitable for sowing common alfalfa 

 in any particular locality. (See page 147.) This 

 will mean that in Northern areas sand lucerne can 

 best be sown in the spring and as early as the danger- 

 from frost is over, that the plants may get as much 

 benefit as possible from the moisture in the soil be- 

 fore dry weather begins. It will also mean that if 

 sown southward in the autumn, it may in some in- 

 stances be necessary to wait longer for the sandy 

 soils on which the seed is sown to become sufficiently 

 moist to sprout the seed than for such a condition 

 in soils on which common alfalfa is usually sown. 

 The amounts of seed to sow will also be practically 

 the same. (See page 152.) 



The adaptation of sand lucerne for providing pas- 

 ture is as high, if not, indeed, higher, than that of 

 common alfalfa, since it is said that it has less 



