36 



It has a root that runs straight downward, and it has to he very dry to prevent it 

 making seed. On damp rich land it grows large enough to make a good swath of hay. 

 On poor or dry land it is small and dries up, but even in its dry state stock eat it clean 

 and are very fond of it. 



C. E. Orcutt, San Diego, Cal. : 



Er odium cicutarium and Erodium moschatum (about equally used), grow abundantly 

 in Southern California and through Northern Lower California, sometimes attaining 

 a beight of 2 feet or more. They grow on dry lands, but only in wet years, or where 

 there is abundant rainfall do they attain any size. 



O. F. Thornton, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona: 



It is not cultivated, but is rapidly spreading on the dry ranges (i. e. } valleys and 

 mountain sides), and is one of the very best wild grasses either green or dry. 



J. C. Tiffany, San Marcial, Socorro County, New Mexico : 



There is very little in this county ; what there is here has been brought in the wool 

 of sheep from California. It grows well on uplands or low, aud is spreading rapidly. 

 It is excellent feed — one of the very best. I am trying to get a large quantity of the 

 seed to sow on my ranges. Can you inform me how it may be obtained? I would 

 scatter it in localities over 20,000 acres if I could get the seed at a reasonable cost. 



Dr. A. G-attinger, Nashville, Tenn. : 



It is not known here, but I have seen it in Germany. It is a vile weed, and ought 

 not to be introduced into cultivation. I cannot understand how such a thing can be 

 seriously spoken of when so many really good native plants are totally ignored. 



Alfalfa, Medicago sativa, PI. XIV. 



This plant is called Lucerne, Medick, Spanish Trefoil, French Clover 

 Brazilian Clover, and Chilian Clover. It is not a true Clover, though 

 belonging to the same natural family as the clovers. Alfalfa, the name 

 by which it is commonly known in this country, is the Spanish name, 

 which came into use here from the fact that the plant was introduced 

 into cultivation in California from South America under the name of Al- 

 falfa or Brazilian Clover. The plant had previously been introduced 

 into the Eastern, and Southern States, but attracted little attention 

 until its remarkable success in California. In Europe it is generally 

 known as Lucerne, probably from the canton of Lucerne, in Switzer- 

 land, where it was largely cultivated at an early day. It has been 

 known in cultivation from very ancient times, and was introduced from 

 Western Asia into Greece about 500 B. C. It is now largely grown in 

 Southern France, and to a considerable extent in other parts of Europe. 

 It has been introduced into several of the countries of South America, 

 and on the pampas of Buenos Ayres it has escaped from cultivation and 

 grows extensively in a wild state. Though known for a long time in 

 the United States, Alfalfa is not yet cultivated to the extent that it 

 should be. 



In the Southern States east of the Mississippi it is especially desir- 

 able that its merits should be better known. The climate of that sec- 

 tion is nearly as favorable to its growth as that of Southern California, 

 but much of its soil less suitable, hence reports from different localities 

 vary somewhat as to its value. 



