Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-29

| it win doubtless prove the sine Qaso non
when It's rare qualities shall be generally
known. In South America it Is known
as Alfalfa, a difference only in name.
II viii grow IN The same climate and sol
with red clover, but needs stronger land,
and, being a native of Southern Europe,
requires, to perfect itself, more sunshine
and warmth. This popularity can be
renedied TO a considerable extent by q
rich soil, warm exposure, and stimula-
ting manures. When furnished with
these advantages, its rapid growth and
| the amount of lucen that can be taken
off small piece of ground is astonishing.
From four to six crops can be cut in one
season from the same piece of land For
tiesh-forming, and nutritive elements it
is superior 10 red clover, containing 90. z
parts to ALP in clover. Like clover it
covers the ground with a dense shade,
thus enriehing the soil, while the roots
strike down into the subsoil to the depth
of several feet, defying drought and
leaving the soil in admirable condition
for subsequent cultivation.
'Lucen resembles clover in appear
ance, with smaller leaf, and it left to
ripen, a more woody stem. Iwould not
recommend it to take the place of clover
for general purposes, but do most en-
phatically endorse it as q soiling plant, to
meet the great want of the dairyman and
stock-breeder. For horses it has special
merits; not being soft and washy, they
are not liable to scour on it. 1t is peren.
NAL. Once get it rooted, and, with a
clean soil it win last for years, yielding
its repeated burdens of richness. The
seed is larger than clover seed, and when
ripe and fresh, glossy and yellow. 1t can
be obtained of any first class dealer at fifty
cents per pound. The crop may be sowed
with grain, rye being the best, but it is
preferable to SOW alone, from eight to ten |
pounds of seed to the acre. Mr.. Robert |
Gibson, the well known farmer and herds |
man of New York Mills, has had an ex-
tensive experience with the cultivation
and feeding of lucern, and may Justly be |
called the pioneer in its Introduction and |
tillage in America.
''The large stock at New York Mills |
are fed in summer on this grass, and their
condition proverbially excellent. Mr..
Gibson says The great point is to get the
crop started. To do this successfully, it is
best to pillow this ground deeply in the fall
after some hoe crop, and then again in
the spring, so as to thoroughly pulverize
it and fit it for the reception of small
seeds. The seed should be put in as early
as possible in the spring, to get the start
of the hot sun; that is, so that the young
plants may have growth enough to shade
the rootlets. The surest method would be
to SOW the seed in drills, wide enough
apart to be titled with cul.iyator or horse +
hoe, and the weeds and other grasses re-
moved, or they will chok the lucern. This
plant is excessively sensitive in this re-
spect, and if it is expected TO last for years,
it must be protected from the encroach-
menls of all such interlopers. Two crops
may he taken off the first year. So rapid
is the growth that the stalks will attain |
the length of from one TO two feet be-
tween the cuttings.
''Likc all other leguminous plants, lu-
Germ makes extensive draughts on the at
and IFS roots, penetrating down
into subsoil, draw up from beneath both
moisture and valuable elements of growth.
The farmer should select for his lucern |
patch spot of ground handy to the barn,
where the snow (Nature's covering) will
be likely to lie still during the winter;
and then, if he has been painstaking in
his culture, he may have an abundance of
hat which will gladden. the eyes OF the
restless bovine confined in the stable, aud
i'll to overlooking the milk-psil of the
larry msid 4