146 THE GRASSES OP TENNESSEE. 



red clover, and therefore must be sown rather thicker. It 

 will continue to furnish green pasturage later than red 

 clover. 



It does not grow well on any soil that has a hard pan, 

 nor on thin soils. To secure a stand, the ground must be 

 in a thorough state of tilth, well pulverized and mellow. 

 A want of .attention to this requisite has caused many to be 

 disappointed in the result. But in well prepared, rich, 

 gravelly or sandy loam, it succeeds remarkably, sending 

 down its long tap roots many feet into the subsoil, pumping 

 up moisture from below, and thus will thrive when all other 

 plants are drooping. In this respect it is far superior to 

 clover. For the latter, a suitable surface soil is of equal 

 importance with the subsoil, but for Lucerne a suitable sub- 

 soil is absolutely necessary, as the roots are not fibrous, only 

 rootlets shooting off from the main tap root. This tap root 

 grows to be as large as a carrot. This enormous quantity 

 of roots permeating the ground to the depth of several feet, 

 necessarily prepares the land for increased production, the 

 leguminous plants deriving the larger part of their suste- 

 nance from the atmosphere, and storing it in the roots. 



So that, as a fertilizer, it stands deservedly high. The 

 soil is not only fertilized to the amount of several tons per 

 acre, but it is mellowed from the mechanical displacement 

 of the soil and the admixture of decayed vegetable matter. 

 As a preparation for wheat it is equal to clover, and for 

 corn better. Besides, a large amount of the leaves is neces- 

 sarily strewn on the ground, and it shades it effectually. 



The seed of Lucerne is yellow, and heavy, when good. 

 If brown, it has received too much heat in the mow, and if 

 light colored, it indicates that it was saved too green. And 

 the same precautions are necessary to be observed in regard 

 to red clover. The time of sowing is the same with the 

 either species of clover, that is Spring time. It should be 

 sown in drills, and cultivated the first year, so as to keep 

 down the weeds. It is easily smothered. 



