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ALFILARIA 



ALPILARIA 



Distribution. 



The region of the greatest production of alfilaria 

 is confined to California, Nevada, Arizona, New 

 Mexico and Utah. It also extends into Mexico and 

 Central America and parts of South America. The 

 distribution is affected and to a large extent deter- 

 mined by a few climatic features, namely, mild win- 

 ter temperatures, fall and winter precipitation, and 

 altitude as influencing precipitation and tempera- 

 ture. Soil conditions are of minor importance, 

 although, in general, alkalinity should be avoided. 

 A rainfall in winter and spring of five to seven 

 inches will serve to produce a good growth of the 

 crop. Two or three inches of rainfall in December, 

 January and February are needed to start the 

 plants. If the moisture conditions are right, growth 

 will take place through the winter, subject to occa- 

 sional checks due to unusually low temperatures. 



Elevation as related to rainfall and temperature 

 is important. Alfilaria does best between 1,500 

 and 4,500 feet altitude. Above this height the 

 winter temperatures are generally too severe for 

 growth, and below it there is likely to be deficient 

 rainfall. 



The fact that alfilaria begins its growth in the 

 late fall or early winter adapts it especially to 

 southwestern United States. At that time the 

 moisture conditions are most satisfactory. The 

 plant rapidly develops the low, spreading rosette, 

 which gets the maximum amount of heat and light. 

 The formation of a deep taproot enables it to 

 withstand drought and to start a rapid growth 

 when the warm days come. In Washington and 

 similar latitudes, alfilaria is usually a spring or 

 summer plant. 



Growth. 



The seed and seeding. — Heretofore seeding has 

 been accomplished largely by sheep, and the 

 method has been sufficiently successful to be con- 

 sidered an effective and reliable system. The seeds 

 are furnished with twisted awns and an abundance 

 of hairs so disposed as to aid them to fasten to and 

 penetrate the furry coats of animals. Sheep, on 

 passing through a field of alfilaria, get more or less 

 covered with the seeds, besides carrying away 

 many between their toes. The incessant trampling 

 serves to plant the seed to the proper depth. The 

 same is true of other stock. 



When planting is to be done over a considerable 

 area, the seed should be gathered and sown as 

 soon thereafter as convenient. If the seed is 

 stored through the summer and sown in the fall, a 

 large percentage of it will lie in the ground for 

 a year ; whereas, if it is sown soon after maturity, 

 the summer weather seems to fit it for quick 

 growth when fall rains come. The seeds mature 

 in spring and are gathered in May and June. If 

 ungathered, they will remain on or in the ground 

 in a dormant state until fall, no matter how 

 favorable the conditions for growth. A southern 

 exposure is preferable. If the seeding can be done 

 among shrubs, the seedling plants will be protected 

 against animals until they are established. The par- 

 tial shade afforded by the shrubs also seems to have 



ft beneficial effect, making the temperature and mois- 

 ture conditions more uniform. The seed is harrowed 

 in to a depth of about a half inch. 



Development. — The fall rains induce rapid ger- 

 mination and growth, and the seedlings soon develop 

 compact, many-leaved rosettes, which lie close to 

 the ground. The rosettes grow slowly during the 

 winter by increasing the leaf surface. Flower- 

 buds are formed at their centers. At the same 

 time a deep heavy taproot is formed. The flowers 

 begin to show with the first warm days of late 

 winter. Several vigorous stems soon spring up 

 from each plant, which continue to grow until April 

 or May. Six to eight weeks elapse between the 

 flowers and the formation of much seed. 



As a forage crop. — Wherever alfilaria has become 

 abundant it has doubled the spring forage supply, 

 without interfering with the later growth of 

 summer species, principally grasses. Once estab- 

 lished it is permanent unless grazed to the detri- 

 ment of seed production, which is unlikely. It is 

 relished by all range stock, at all stages of its 

 growth. It is especially relished by sheep, which 

 are able to nibble its flattened rosettes some time 

 before the larger animals. The only objection is 

 that the seeds in the wool reduce the value of the 

 latter as much as a cent and a half a pound. 

 Shearing twice a year — in March and September — 

 has been found to reduce this objection to a min- 

 imum. As a forage crop, alfilaria is both nutri- 

 tious and succulent. 



As a hay crop. — The use of alfilaria as a hay 

 plant is yet limited. If cut when in blossom and 

 cured as is alfalfa it is very palatable. But, in 

 order to attain a growth sufficient for this pur- 

 pose, it should be grown under favorable con- 

 ditions on the richer soils of valleys, swales, 

 mesas and similar areas. Under ordinary con- 

 ditions, a fair yield is a ton and a half of hay per 

 acre. Unfortunately, the common method of hand- 

 ling the crop for hay is exceedingly wasteful, the 

 long weathering causing the loss of the most 

 valuable constituents. 



Composition of alfilaria hay. — Analyses made at 

 the Arizona Experiment Station by Vinson showed 

 alfilaria to contain a high percentage of ash. The 

 fat is present in larger proportion than in alfalfa, 

 but slightly less than in most varieties of hay. 

 The protein coAtent is high, comparing favorably 

 with hay from legumes. The crude fiber is moder- 

 ate, being about the same as in good timothy hay. 

 The carbohydrates are abundant. 



Literature. 



Comparatively little has been written on 

 alfilaria in this country. The most comprehensive 

 discussion is found in Bulletin No. 52, of the 

 Agricultural Experiment Station of the Univer- 

 sity of Arizona, from which this article is largely 

 adapted. A few of the experiment stations have 

 bulletins on the subject, and the 1901 Yearbook 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 gives a few notes. 



