70 EXTKACTS FKOM DIPLOMA.TIC AXD CONSULAfl [June 1895. 



EEPORTS. 



Cultivation of Alfalfa Hay in Chile. 



Mr. J. W. Warburton, Her Majesty's Consul-Geiieral at Val- 

 paraiso, in a recent report to the Foreign Office, states that 

 among the most important of the agricultural products of Chile 

 is " alfalfa " (onedicago sativa), a species of lucern. In the 

 districts where there is little rainfall it takes the place of grass 

 in irrigated meadows. It is also dried like hay or clover 

 %nd compressed for purposes of carriage, and forms the 'chief 

 food of cattle and horses in the dry provinces. Alfalfa hay or 

 " pasto " is said to be exceedingly nourishing, but perhaps more 

 fattening than British hay, and therefore the latter would probably 

 be more suitable for horses if it could be procured cheaply. But 

 it is excellent food, and horses get little else except those of the 

 richer classes. Chilian oats are stated not to be of good quality, 

 and barley takes their place, but alfalfa hay is the chief food 

 for stock. 



Alfalfa, which in the drier districts is grown entirely by 

 irrigation, is enormously productive, three and even four crops 

 a year being taken. Mr. Warburton has been informed on 

 excellent authority that such is the richness of the soil, that 

 many of the alfalfa meadows have been worked for from 12 to 

 15 years without being tilled or the plants renewed ; and without 

 being manured. 



A description is given in the report of a not unusually large 

 alfalfa farm, the Pirque Estate, near Santiago. 



On this farm there are nearly 6,000 acres laid down with lucern 

 and the actual production is 1,500 bales a day. This, it is ex- 

 pected, will be augmented to 2,500. The plant consists of thirty- 

 five champion mowers, twelve rakes, sixty carts, each with a 

 carrying capacity of forty bales, six chaff cutters, three machines 

 for cleaning and separating the hay into classes, two French 

 horizontal pumps, three American vertical force pumps, four 

 hydraulic presses, each with a pressure of sixty tons, and a 

 60 horse-power turbine. 



The farm buildings consist of two sheds, each 65 by 22 yards, 

 which contain the machinery and serve as stores for the pressed 

 hay, and are lighted by electricity. There are, besides, car- 

 penters' and blacksmiths' shops and storerooms. 



The stock on the estate comprises 500 oxen for the carts, 220 

 horses for the mowers and rakes, and 200 for the use of the head 

 waggoners and overseers. There are, in all, including animals 

 for breeding purposes, 2,500 horses and cattle, and 8,000 sheep. 



[Foreign Offi.ce Report, Annual Series, No. 1516. Price 2|d] 



