66 ALFAXiFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



near Marysville in the Sacramento Valley in 1851, who continued 

 until he had 270 acres in 1858. 



Question: What was the source of the seed? 



Answer: From Chili and the plant was called Chili clover until 

 its Spanish name alfalfa was taken up. It was some time later 

 when its botanical identity with lucerne was known. 



Question: Were there many alfalfa fields or patches in use by 

 the Mexicans, or earlier Californians, prior to the occupation by 

 the United States? 



Answer: I never heard of any. Introduction is believed to 

 have been by Americans from Chili with which country there 

 was much trade and where stops were made coming round The 

 Horn. 



Question: What is the oldest alfalfa field that you know of to- 

 day, and about how many years? 



Answer: I have no definite instance. The plant on good soil- 

 that is free soil where no root injury comes from standing water 

 — is counted upon for more than 20 years of profitable growth. 



Question: About what percentage of carbonate of lime exists in 

 the most productive alfalfa soils of California? 



Answer: We are now growing alfalfa on nearly all productive 

 soils, the acreage on the heavier soils, formerly held to be un- 

 suitable. Increasing every year. The average lime in California 

 soils (average of 262 analyses) is 1.25%. 



Question: What would you consider an average yearly pro- 

 duction per acre of alfalfa hay? 



Answer: Five tons. 



Question: What is the maximum that you have known? 



Answer: I cannot be sure but think it has gone up to 12 tons. 



Question: We hear very astonishing stories of long alfalfa 

 roots; how long a one have you actually seen measured, or had 

 knowledge of that you considered authentic? 



Answer: 24 feet but others claim up to 30 feet. 



Concerning Henry Miller's alfalfa I wrote in 

 "The Breeder's Grazette" in September of 1900 as 

 follows : 



Away back in 1850 there landed in San Francisco a lad with 

 fifty cents in his pocket, a brave heart and a determination to 

 work and succeed In this new world. He went to work in a 

 butcher shop. Soon he had a small shop of his own. Then it 

 was a large shop. Then he bought, in 1858, a little land on which 

 to hold some cattle. In 1860 he bought land in the San Joaquin 



