FORAGE PLANTS. 
Alfalfa is the most important of forage plants grown in the 
northern and central districts of Chile. Both the condition of 
the soil and the climate are well suited for its cultivation. In 
the northern region its vegetation period is about ten months, 
during which time some five or more cuts are made and used 
principally as hay for home consumption as well as for export. 
There have been years in which more than 7,000 metric tons of 
alfalfa hay were exported, and its excellent quality is appreciated 
in foreign markets. Summer rains being almost totally unknown 
in the central regions, and particularly so in the north, hay pro¬ 
ducing very rarely suffers from this cause and is thus made easy. 
There are several important establishments throughout this region 
with modern machinery in the interests of the hay industry, 
especially the Provinces of Aconcagua and Santiago. 
In the southern part of Chile red clover gradually takes the 
place of alfalfa, as the climate becomes more damp and is utilized 
on a smaller scale for making hay. The cultivation of this plant 
has gained in importance within the past few years, as will be 
seen by the following figures representing the total amount of 
seed exported: in 1896 only 110 metric tons of this seed were 
exported, but from that time exports have increased considerably 
up to 964 metric tons for 1900. The seed is of very fine qual¬ 
ity, and there are certain lands in Chile that yield as much as 
1,500 kilograms per hectare. Red clover continues in vegetation 
throughout the winter in this region. This shows that the cli¬ 
mate is very mild and suited to its cultivation. It is also used 
during this season for cattle grazing. 
White clover grows very well throughout the central and south¬ 
ern regions, and to such an extent that it has become famous as 
a grass that will develop even in winter. 
Among the forage plants belonging to the gramineous class 
which are most largely cultivated in Chile, we can cite Lolium 
(Ballica), “Dactylus Glomerata” and “Holeus Lamatus.” There 
are two kinds of native gramineous plants of Chile, one is called 
“ Mallin ” and the other “ Coiron,” both of which grow abundantly 
in mountainous lands close to the Cordillera. The latter is better 
adapted for the southern districts, as in the north it becomes 
woody when it ripens. 
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