Geographical 
distribution. 
Linits 
of altitude. 
Climate. 
Soil. 
Substances 
148 
duration to the lucerne ley. This interval of time, however, depends largely upon the 
nature of the subsoil, if this is good, the crop may recur sooner. 
Occurrence, climate, soil, manure. Lucerne is indigenous to the following parts of Asia — 
Anatolia, Southern Caucasus, Persia, Afghanistan, Beloochistan and Cashmere. In Europe it is extensively 
cultivated in Southern France, Northern Italy, Hungary, and the Palatinate, It occurs as an escape from 
cultivation especially on warm caleareous soils. 
At Schleins in the lower Engadine, it is cultivated al a height of 5000 ft. There, it succeeds 
very well and two vultings can be taken in a season, In the canton of Grisons, fields of lucerne from 
20 to 25 years old are found at altitudes varying from 3000 to 4000 ft. At Obervaz and at Chur- 
walden (4200 ft.) Briigger found it growing wild. 
Kor successful cultivation, lucerne requires a warm climate and a warm exposure, it 
therefore thrives best in the maize and vine regions. 
It can withstand drought better than other Jeguminous plants because its roots des- 
cend to greater depths. After continuous drought lasting for several weeks, the plant 
withers if the soil is very permeable to water, but, whenever rain comes on, it immediately 
recovers and starts afresh. 
Wet weather does is more injury than drought; in a wet season, therefore, the crop 
is not so good as usual. If the district has a heavy rainfall, the plant does not thrive at 
all. It may, in fact, be assumed that lucerne cannot be successfully grown wherever the 
annual rainfall exceeds 32 or 36 inches, even though the soil is suitable in other respects. 
Not only is the rain directly injurious, but weeds are favoured and obtain the upper hand. 
It is not sensitive to cold, and temperatures as low as 25° C. below freezing point 
are said to act injuriously only when the plants are not. sheltered by snow. 
The great essential for the successful growth of lucerne is a good subsoil, not too 
compact, Into the depths of which the roots may easily penetrate in all directions and find 
the nutriment which they require. The surface soil is of slight importance; it matters 
little whether it is heavy or light, but the subsoil must be good. 
A large amount of lime is another requisite. Accordingly, lucerne thrives best on 
soils and subsoils rich in this constituent, namely, on loamy and sandy marls and on 
calcareous and clay marls. It also grows well on loams and clays with a permeable sub- 
sou and even on sands with a good subsoil containing lime. On soils resulting from the 
weathering of calcareous rocks, it is equally successful, if the subsoil is well decomposed 
or well broken up; but, if the subsoil is too solid and rocky, the plant cannot be grown. 
If the soilis good and sufficiently deep, even though the subsoil be gravelly, the plant prospers. 
On clays with a stiff and impermeable subsoil as well as on very wet land, the 
plant becomes diseased and soon perishes. | 
Lucerne seeks its nutriment in the depths of the soil. A striking example of this is 
removed from yeferred to by the Swiss naturalist Bonnet, who mentions a plant found on the banks of 
the soil. 
the Arve with a tap-root 66 feet in length, 
According to Fraas, the roots of leguminous plants can penetrate to the following depths: — 
White clover. . : A 6 inches 
Crimson clover . ; eae 
Red clover . ; ey 
Lucerne. : ; ; me lh 
Sainfoin . 37 to 150 
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