56(1 



RErOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGBICULTOHB 



CULTIVATION OF ALFALFA * 



In a country so widespread and diversified as the United States, it is 

 not to be wondered at that a crop that is valued in some localities is 

 unknown in others. 



But it is somewhat surprising that, in many of the Southern Stales, 

 where the want of forage is so much felt, that the culture of a plant so 

 admirably adapted for their soil and climate has so long been neglected. 

 In a visit to Florida, in February, 1883, 1 was impressed, as every North- 

 ern man must be, with the utter dearth of forage plants, and, as a con- 

 sequence, the hungry and meager starved-looking cattle. To my in- 

 quiries everywhere the same reply was given, that no good grass or 

 clover could be found to stand the heat and drought of their long sum- 

 mers. Fortunately, in alluding to the subject, while in the company of 

 Mr. E. Bronson, of Saint Augustine, Fla., he promptly showed a prac- 

 tical solution of the difficulty by taking me to a patch of alfalfa, about 

 twenty-five feet by one hundred, or only about the one-sixteenth part of 

 an acre. From that little patch Mr. B. assured me that he had fed a 

 cow during the summer months, getting as fine milk and butter as ever 

 he got North; and further said that twice that area, or one-eighth part 

 of an acre, would be ample to supply a cow with food during the entire 

 season. The land used by Mr. Bronson for his experiment with alfalfa 

 was identical with the thousands of acres in his immediate vicinity, 

 which was given over to the blue palmetto and scrubby pines, through 

 which the goat-like cattle browse out a miserable existence. Mr. Bron- 

 son, though only an amateur, is a careful observer, and an enthusiastic 

 student in everything that relates to agriculture. In the culture of al- 

 falfa for Florida and other Southern latitudes he advises that the crop 

 be sown early in the fall ; early enough to attain a height of 4 or 5 inches 

 before growth is arrested by cold weather — in Florida say from 1st to 

 15th of October. 



The soil best suited for the growth of alfalfa is that which is deep 

 and sandy ; hence the soil of Florida and many other portions of the 

 cotton belt is eminently fitted. The plant makes a tap-root with few 

 laterals, and its roots are often found at a depth of 6 to 8 feet, thus 

 drawing food from depths entirely beyond the action of drought or heat. 

 When alfalfa is to be grown on a large scale, to get at the best results 

 the ground chosen should be high and level, or, if not high, such as is 

 entirely free from under water. Drainage must be as near perfect as 

 possible, either naturally or artificially. This in fact is a primary ne- 

 cessity for every crop, unless it be such as is aquatic or subaquatic. 



Deep ploughing, thorough harrowing and leveling with that valuable 

 implement the { « smoothing harrow," to get a smooth and level surface, 

 are the next operations. This should be done, in the Southern States, 

 from 1st to 20th October, or at such season in the fall as would be soon 

 enough to insure a growth of 4 or 5 inches before the season of growth 

 stops. Draw out lines on the prepared land 20 inches apart (if for 

 horse culture, but if for hand culture 14 inches) and 2 or 3 inches 

 deep. These lines are best made by what market-gardeners call a 

 " marker," which is made by nailing six tooth-shaped pickets 6 or 

 8 inches long at the required distance apart to a three by four inch 

 joist, to which a handle is attached, which makes the marker or drag. 



* The cultivation of lucerne, called on the Pacific coast alfalfa (Medicago satihi 

 of the botanists), is of immense importance in certain dry soils. This paper is writ- 

 ten by a competent authority, Mr. Peter Henderson, of New York. 



