HISTORY. 59 
land was badly drained and fields were ruined by 
not being cut at the proper time. Thus the enthu- 
siasts gradually became discouraged and it became 
a settled belief that lucerne could not profitably be 
grown in eastern America outside of a few re- 
stricted neighborhoods. As indicating the sentiment 
of the friends of alfalfa in those days we quote a 
letter published in the ‘‘ American Farmer’’ of 1823, 
the letter copied from the ‘‘New Brunswick Times.’’ 
The method of sowing advised is curious, to sow in 
the spring with fall rye, and there may be a hint in 
this for others living today in similar conditions. 
Note the excessive price of the seed—50c per lb., or 
$30 per bushel. The letter written by ‘‘A New Jer- 
sey Farmer’’ follows: 
It may materially promote the interests of agriculture to offer 
through the medium of your paper a few remarks on the culture 
of lucerne. This article (frequently denominated French clover), 
I have found by experience to be not only one of the most con- 
venient, but also the most profitable of any grass which can be 
eultivated. It vegetates quicker in the spring than any other 
grass, it resists the effects of drouths, it may be cut four or five 
times in the course of the season, and it will endure for at least 
twelve years without being renewed. Of all other grass it is the 
most profitable for soiling. I am fully of opinion that one acre 
properly got in would be sufficient to maintain six head of cattle, 
from the first of May until November, for before it can be cut 
down in this way, the first part of it will be ready for the scythe. 
English writers have recommended the drill system for this arti- 
cle, but in this climate I have found this to be entirely fallacious. 
The proper mode to be adopted is to have your land in good order, 
to sow it broadcast, and to get the seed in during the month of 
April or May. The plan I would recommend would be to sow 
fall rye at the rate of 15 to 20 pounds to the acre with it. The 
effect of this is that the rve vegetates quickly, and serves as a 
nurse to the young grass against the heat of the scorching sun, 
and by the time the grass attains sufficient strength to protect 
itself, say in four or five weeks, the rye withers and apparently 
