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more resistant plants than red clover. As a substitute for the latter it is difficult to 
overestimate the importance of alfalfa to California 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 objections to its use being the result of 
want of practice in curing. On the irrigated lands of Kern, Fresno, and Tulare 
Counties three and even four cuts of forage, aggregating to something like 12 to 14 
tons per acre, have frequently been made. As the most available green forage during 
the summer, alfalfa has become an invaluable adjunct to al] dairy and stock farming 
wherever the soil can, during the dry season, supply any moisture within 2 or 3 feet 
of the surface. 
Peter Henderson, in an article on alfalfa in the Report of the De- 
partment of Agriculture for 1884, page 567, says: 
Mr. William Crozier, of Northport, Long Island, one of the 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 used it always to feed his milch cows and breeding 
ewes, particularly in preparing them 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 usually clear and in a high state 
of cultivation, which enables him to adopt the broadcast plan; but on an average 
land it will be found that the plan cf 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 this section, the latitude of New York, he finds that the 
best date for 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 cropsif cut. Sometimes the last one, 
instead of being cut, is fed on the ground by sheep and cattle. 
(Plate 96.) 
Medicago denticulata (Bur Clover). 
This is a native of the Mediterranean region, which has become nat- 
uralized in most warm countries.. It was early introduced into 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 pastureor hay, but coming at atime 
of year when other feed is scarce, and often growing 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 pro- 
longed drought from its making 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 orearly summer. It 
has been introduced from California into the Southern States, where it 
is generally highly regarded by those who have tried it, both for graz- 
ing and as a renovator of the soil. Being an annual, and ripening 
early, other crops may be grown on the same land during the summer 
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