t)EC. T, 1897.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
377 
In 1895 the yield from the Dumont fazenda alone 
amounted to 4,100,000 kilograms, and that of 1896. 
rose to 4,5110,000 kilograms. This plantation was 
sold three years ago to a Brazilian company for the 
sum of 12, 000,000 francs. — The American Grocer. 
LUCERNE (ALFALFA) CULTIVATION. 
Extr act from ‘ Hand-Bool' of Experimental 
Station Worle, ’ published by the Depart- 
ment of Ayricidture, Umted States, 
in 189S (pp. 10—11.) 
Localities suitable ior Cultivation. — A perennial 
forage plant, resembling clover in its feeding value, 
habits of growth and effects on succeeding crops. 
Under favourable conditions it will live from eight 
to fifteen years and does not run out as clover does. 
It has long been cultivated in Europe and is grown 
quite extensively in California and some of the other 
Western and Southern States. It seems probable that 
it may be introduced with advantage into may parts 
of the Southern States east of the Mississippi, and 
over a wide tract cf the more arid regions of 
the south-west. It has been grown successfully for 
several years at the station at Geneva, New York, 
but in recent experiments on thirty farms in different 
parts of Vermont, it was very largely winter-killed. 
While a southern climate is more favourable to 
Lucerne, numerous experiments have shown that it 
will do well in maijy localities in the Northern States, 
and, when established, will produce from three to five 
crops each season for a number of successive years. 
“Lucerne is specially adapted to dry climates and 
withstands drought much better than ordinary clovers.” 
For this reason it is largely relied on in Colorado 
and California, especially where irrigation is used. 
A Nitrogen-collecting Crop. — Lucerne is one of the 
plants which collects Nitrogen from the air. It also 
gathers a coi siderable amount of Phosphoric Acid and 
Potash. At the New Jersey station in two years Lucerne 
grown on 1 acre collected 553 lb. of Nitrogen, 98 lb. 
of Phosphoric Acid, and 686 lb. of Potash, valued at 
124 dollars. 
If Lucerre and its products are properly utilised 
on the farm, it cannot be considered an exhaustive 
crop, but rather one which transforms the raw materials 
in soil and atmosphere into products for man’s use. 
Soil Preferred. — Otdiure. — Lucerne prefers a light’ 
sandy or loam soil, with a sub-soil through which its 
long roots can penetrate. In some cases its top roc t 
down 12 to 15 or even 20 feet. At the New Yoik 
station, however. Lucerne has been successfully grown 
on a clay soil. On such a soil greater pains must 
be taken to secure a good stand, but, when the 
plant is once established, the character of the sub-soil 
is of more importance than that of the suiface soil. 
Use fresh, pure seed. Sow at any time when the 
ground is in suitable condition, and when theie will 
be time for the plants to become well established 
before they are subjected either to drought or extreme 
cold. The soil should be thoroughly prepared and 
the seed sown at the rate of 15 to 20 lb. to the acre. 
If sown broadcast, about the latter quantity will be 
required ; if in drills, the former amount will be 
sufficient. In the north spring seeding is adrisable, 
but in the south it is better to sow in the autumn 
Irrigation. — In regions where irrigation is necessary, 
the Colorado station advises that the water should 
be applied to Lucerne before cutting, because thus 
the reaper does its work more effectively, and the 
growth of the succeeding crop is stimulated. A 
relatively large amount of moisture is required the 
first year in order to secure a good stand. 
Harvesting. — Lucerne should be cut during the first 
period of good weather after the blossoms begin to 
appear. If allowed to stand too long, its stalk be- 
comes hard and woody, and succeeding crops are 
likely to be diminished. If designed for hay, it must 
be carefully cured and housed, for otherwise its leaves 
will drop off and only a mass of bare stalks be left. 
Value as a Feeding Stuff.— During a single season 
Lucerne furnishes a large amount of nutritious green 
forage relished by all kinds of stock. It should be 
partially wilted or mixed with hay or straw. In the 
dry regions of the west it is much used for pasturage, 
especially in the autumn, but there is more or less 
danger that it will cause the cattle to bloat or that 
the plants will be killed by close pasturing. Cattle 
sheep, and horses relish Lucerne hay and seem to 
thrive on it. 
Chemical analyses and digestion experiments show 
that Lucerne compares very favourably with red 
clover both as green fodder and as hay. It may be 
used either for fattening or for milk. To secure a 
well balanced and economical ration. Lucerne, which 
contains a large proportion of protein, should be fed 
with corn, wheat, oats, straw, root crops, etc., which 
contain relatively large amounts of the other food in. 
gredients (carbohydrates and fat). In many instances 
farmers might profitably raise Lucerne as a substitute 
for the wheat bran, cotton-seed meal, and other mate- 
rials which contain large amounts ci protein and which 
they are now buying in order to utilise the excess 
of carbohydrates produced in corn and other crops. 
Disadvantages.— (1) It is not easily estab- 
lished; (2) it is less hardy than clover; (3) if 
allowed to grow too long its stalks become hard and 
woody; (4) except in dry regions cattle cannot be 
safely pastured on it; (5) it requires peculiar treat- 
ment to make good hay. 
Advantages. — (1) ‘When established it does not run 
out ; (2) it wi;hstands drought much better than clover • 
(3; it grows rapidly and m-iy be cut early in the 
season ; (4) it gathers a large amount of nitrogen 
from the air as well as from the soil, and is there- 
fore very valuable as a fertilising crop ; (5) it furnishes 
several large crops of green fodder each season • (6) 
when properly cured it makes an excellent hay- (7) 
it is relished and digested by all farm animals and 
is an excellent flesh and milk producer ; f8) it makes 
muscle rather than fat, and is therefore valuable to 
use with corn and other fat-pr oducing crops to make 
a well-balanced ration for cattle. 
In brief, experience at the stations and elsewhere 
indicates that Lucerne is valuable as a feeding stuff 
and as a fertilising crop, but that it requires peculiar 
conditions of climate and soil for growth and careful 
culture and curing to make it a profitable crop. It is 
worthy of repeated and systematic experimental tests 
by farmers, even though in some regions and on some 
farms it should prove a failure. 
Diseases. — (Pscuclopeziza medicayinis). — This fungoid 
disease is found in nearly every place where Lucerne 
is grown. \ sually it does not attack the plant until 
the second year’s growth when the plant is able to 
survive the disease. Sometimes, however, it completely 
destroys seedling plants. The disease shows itself 
as minute dark-brown spots of irregular shape upon 
the green or discoloured leaflet. The centre of each 
spot forms a small pustule. In this are developed 
the spores, which are set free by the breaking of 
the epidermis. The disease readily survives the winter 
and may develop year after year in the same field. 
In serious cases covering with straw and burning 
alone stopped the disease. It may be held in check 
by frequent cuttings. 
Lucerne Root-rot. — {Ozonium auricomum ). — The fun’« 
gus causing this disease has been identified as the 
same as that causing the “root rot of cotton.” It 
attacks the crown of the plant and W'orks down for 
6 to 10 inches, completely killing it. In the field 
the disease spreads in almost a perfect circle, at a 
rate of 50 to 60 feet during the season, killing’every 
plant. It is thought that sowing salt plentifully or 
appl3iug kerosine over the infested spots will kill 
it out, thus preventing further spreading. The disease 
is worst in dry, hot weather. 
In the Appendix to the Handhoolc of Experimental 
Station Work (pp. 386, 388 and 397) the followiug ig 
