188 



It has been found, as the result of more than 100 experiments at the 

 New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, that the chances of 

 raising a good crop are four in five where lime (13 \ cwt. to the acre) 

 and naturally inoculated soil (about 2 cwt. to the acre) are applied 

 (Agric. News, Barbados, viii. 1909, p. 281). 



Farm yard manure or some commercial fertilizer, superphosphate 

 of lime, sulphate of potash &c, are necessary on poor soil, before 

 sowing, and at intervals during growth, applied after a harvest. 



Propagation may be effected by seeds or cuttings of strong shoots 

 from established plants. 



Seeds may be sown broadcast or on ridges (1^-2 J ft. apart) 

 preferably the latter, to facilitate cultivation, irrigation, and to 

 prevent water lodging about the plant. About 10 to 20 lbs. per acre 

 may be required. Sometimes a thinly sown nurse crop of some 

 annual grain is recommended, but if this can be avoided so much 

 the better, weeds and cover of any kind being detrimental. 



A crop takes about six months to establish, and will stand cutting 

 over for many years, and to be profitable, it would require to be kept 

 growing for three years, at the least. 



Harvesting should be made just before the plants flower ; when 

 cut for hay the preparation requires some care in order to avoid 

 shedding of the leaves. 



The number of cuttings and yield per year will vary according to 

 locality. In India 10 cuttings with an out-turn per acre of 31,816 lbs. 

 (Watt. Comm. Prod. India, p. 779) In Ecuador from 5-7 crops in 

 the table-lands, and scarcely 3 crops at very high altitudes 

 (2800 metres or more) ; sometimes reaching 120,000 lbs. per hectare 

 (2*471 acres) in rich soil ; normal yield 80,000 lbs. per year 

 (Dietrich U.S. Cons. Rep. Washington, Nov. 1907, p. 174). In 

 Honolulu under irrigation 13 crops per annum (Smith, Philippine 

 Agric. Rev. 1908, p. 244). In Nebraska cut at least three times a 

 year, and yielding 4'12 tons per acre (Cons. Rep. Ann. No. 3622, 



1906, p. 10), the area covered (1905) being 315,711 acres yielding 

 1,301,760 tons, value £2,343,168 (I.e. p. 88). 



Other instances could be given, but the above will be sufficient to 

 show an approximation of the average yield. It may be taken as a 

 general rule that in countries where there is no winter season and 

 hence a longer growing period, the yield will be greater than when 

 growth is quite suspended for several months in the year. 



The experience in Nigeria with this plant is scarcely worthy of 

 mention ; there is a record of the purchase of some seeds of the 

 Provence Lucerne, from Vilmorin Andrieux & Co., Paris, by the 

 Lagos Government in 1892 ; " grown freely " is all that is said in 

 the report (Millen, Bot. St. Lagos, 30th Sept. 1892). In 1906 the 

 cultivation of Lucerne was reported from Oloke Meji, for distribution 

 as a rotation and fodder crop (Foster, S. Nigeria, Govt. Gaz. Dec. 11th, 



1907, Suppl. p. 14, and Col. Rep. Misc. No. 51, 1908, p. 43). It 

 seems possible, however, that this important crop may be found to 

 succeed in the interior of Nigeria, more particularly on the higher 

 elevations, and towards the extreme north. 



Eef. — " Medicago sativa" in Diet. Econ. Prod. India, v. pp. 199- 

 203. Medicago sativa, Lucern, Mollison, Agric. Ledger, No. 18, 



1893, pp. 1-3. Lucerne (Alfalfa) Cultivation, Agric. Ledger, No. 5, 



1894, pp. 1-3 ; extract from Handbook of Experiment Station Work, 



U.S. Dept. Agric. 1893, pp. 10-11. Alfalfa or Lucern, Smith, U.S. 



Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bulletin, No. 31, 1895, pp. 1-23. " Medicago 



