44 



nia from Chili early in her history, differing from the European plant merely in that 

 it has a tendency to taller growth and deeper roots. The latter habit, doubtless ac- 

 quired in the dry climate of Chili, is of course especially valuable in California, as it 

 enables the plant to stand a drought so protracted as to kill out even more resistant 

 plants than red clover. As a substitute for the latter it is difficult to overestimate 

 the importance of Alfalfa to Californian agriculture, which will be more and more 

 recognized as a regular system of rotation becomes a part of the general practice. 

 At first Alfalfa was used almost exclusively for pasture and green-soiling purposes, 

 but during the last three or four years Alfalfa hay has become a regular article in the 

 general market, occasional objection to its use being the result of want of practice in 

 curing. On tbe irrigated lands of Kern, Fresno, and Tulare Counties, three and even 

 four cuts of forage, aggregating to something like 12 to 14 tons of hay per acre, have 

 frequently been made. As the most available green forage during summer. Alfalfa 

 hao become an invaluable adjunct to all dairy and stock farming wherever the soil 

 can, during the dry season, supply any moisture within 2 or 3 feet of the fcurface. 



Peter Henderson, in an article on Alfalfa in tbe Report of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture for 1884. page 567, says: 



Mr. William Crozier, of Northport, L..L, one on. he best-known farmers and stock 

 breeders in the vicinity of New York, says he has long considered Alfalfa one of the 

 best forage crops. He uses it always to feed his milch cows and breeding ewes, par- 

 ticularly in preparing tbem for exhibition at fairs, where he is known to be a most 

 successful competitor; and he always takes along sufficient Alfalfa hay to feed them 

 on while there. Mr. Crozier's system of culture is broadcast, and he uses some 15 

 or 16 pounds of seed to the acre, but his land is unusually clear, and in a high 

 state of cultivation, which enables him to adopt the broadcast plan ; but on average 

 land it will be found that the plan of sowing in drills would be the best. Mr. Cro- 

 zier's crop the second year averages 18 tons green to the acre, and about 6 tons when 

 dried as hay. For his section, the latitude of New York, he finds that the best date 

 of sowing is the first week in May; a good cutting can then be had in September. 

 The next season a full crop is obtained when it is cut, if green, three or four times. 

 If to be used for hay it is cut in the condition of ordinary red clover, in blossom; it 

 then makes after that two green crops if cut; sometimes the last one, instead of be- 

 ing cut, is fed on the ground by sheep or cattle. 



Bur Cloyer, Medicago dmticulata. 



This is a native of the Mediterranean region, which has become nat- 

 uralized in most warm countries. It was early introduced iuto Cali- 

 fornia and has become widely distributed in that State, where it is con- 

 sidered of great value. It is not of first quality either as pasture or hay, 

 but coming at a time of year when other feed is scarce, and often grow- 

 ing where little else will, it is eaten by all kinds of stock. The pods or 

 burs are especially sought after in the dry condition, as they remain 

 good until spoiled by rains. Although this plant does not withstand 

 drought as well as many others, it is enabled to grow on dry soils in 

 climates having prolonged droughts from its mailing its growth during 

 the rainy season. Sown early in autumn, in the sections to which it is 

 adapted, it grows during the winter and ripens the following spring or 

 early summer. It has been introduced from California into the South- 

 ern States, where it is generally highly regarded by those who have tried 

 it, both for grazing and as a renovator of the soil. Being an annual, 



