122 CLOVERS 



of the leading- forage crops. In France it stands 

 high in the popular estimate, and also in some parts 

 of Germany. And even in humid England it is 

 grown more or less freely on dry, calcareous soils. 

 And the day is doubtless near when in many parts 

 of Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Eastern South 

 America this great fodder plant will be found capa- 

 ble of yielding abundant harvests. In some parts of 

 Argentina it has been claimed that it grows like a 

 weed. 



It is believed by many that alfalfa if exposed to 

 very low temperatures will perish and that it can- 

 not stand as much winter exposure as medium red 

 or alsike clover. This is only true of some varie- 

 ties. Other varieties, as the Turkestan, for in- 

 stance, will endure lower temperatures and more ex- 

 posure than the clovers named. Alfalfa has been 

 grown with some success at the government experi- 

 ment station, Indian Head, Sark, Canada, and yet it 

 sometimes winter kills in Texas. As with clover, 

 it is injured most by exposure to sweeping winds 

 blowing over it in winter when the mercury is low, 

 and the injury is more fatal just after the removal 

 of a snow covering and when the plants are young. 

 Ice forming over the fields after a sudden thaw 

 and remaining for a time is very liable to kill the 

 plants. It can stand considerably more summer 

 heat than any of the clovers grown northward, as 

 witnessed in the good crops grown in some parts of 

 Louisiana during the hottest weather of summer. 

 Nevertheless, with reference to temperatures, what 

 may be termed a mild climate, such as characterizes 



