2 ALFALFA 



semi-arid regions of the western states and territories, 

 while gradually finding favor farther east. 



Eastward from the Pacific coast was not, however, 

 the only route of introdudlion of alfalfa into America. 

 It was early known in Germany and other northern 

 countries of Europe, but never became so popular 

 there as farther south. As early as 1820, years before 

 it reached California, it was grown in New York, but 

 seems to have been little appreciated. 



It is interesting to know that such old-time agri- 

 cultural authorities as Columella and Jethro TuU were 

 familiar with alfalfa. French lucerne was introduced 

 into England as early as 1650, but seems to have been 

 much negledled for many years. In 1765 a farmer in 

 Kent had fourteen acres. It is stated that at that time 

 alfalfa was recognized as increasing the milk of kine, 

 but an authority who knew it well asserted that cattle 

 "were apt to grow tired of it and are subjedl to be 

 blown by it." These statements are interesting from 

 the fadl that so many consider alfalfa a new plant. 



DESCRIPTION 



Alfalfa is an upright, branching, smooth, perennial 

 plant, growing one to three feet high. Its leaves are 

 three-parted, each part being broadest above the middle, 

 rounded in outline, and slightly toothed near the apex. 

 The three parts are nearly equal in size, but the size of 

 the leaves varies much on different parts of the plants 

 and on different plants under different conditions. 

 Each part of the full-grown leaf is usually about one 

 inch long and three to four times as long as wide. The 

 purple or violet pea-like flowers, instead of being in a 

 head, as in red clover, are in long, loose clusters or 



