The Placer herald., 1872-08-10
HOUSE AND FARM.
ALFALFA-ITs HISTORY AND VALUE.

from a correspondent, suggesting the Impor-
samce Of culivating alfalfa for pasturlng sheep.
Youf excellent editorials have also been call
ing attention to this useful plant 1t may
interest vour correspondent and other read
ers, as it bas the writer to see what was
thought in early times OF the worth and mode
of culture of this most valuable pasture plant.
Allow me to send you an extract from an
eminent English botanist, who wrote about
il more than forty years ago. The article
contains many useful suggestions, which may
be of value to those who wish to cultivate it.
By way of introduction, we will mention that
the alflfa as we know it in Cal fonia, by
its Spanish name, is exactly the same as the
plant known in England as Lucern, and in
France, AS Burgundy hay, Foin de Bour-
9ogne). Its Botanical name Is Med'cd9o oa'-
lcd.
This writer says of alfalfa, cit is deep
roofing perennial plant, sending up numer-
ous small and tall clover-ke shoots with
blue or violet spikes of flowers. 1t is highly
exlolled by the Roman writer's; it is also OF
unknown antiquity in old Spain, Italy, and
the south oil France; is much grown in Per
sia and Peru, and mown in both countries all
the year round 1t is mentioned by Harihts,
Blythe and other early writers, and was tried
by I.isle: but 1t excited little attention till
after the publication of Hart's Essaysin 1851
But though it has been so much extOlled, it
has yet found no grert reception in this corn-
try" (Enghnd). eff any good reason can
be given for this, it is that Lucern is less
hardy plant than red clover, requires three or
four wears before it comes to full growth,
and is for these and other reasons i'll adapted
to enter into general rotations. When the
climate and soil suit, perhaps field of it
may be adyantageously sown, to afford early
cutting, or food for young or sick animals,
for which it is said to be well adapted; but
though it will produce good crops for eight or
ten years, yet from the time the farmer must
wait till this crop attains its perfection, and
from the care requisite to keep it from grass
and weeds, we do not think it is ever likely
to come into general culture.
The soil for lucern must be dry, friable,
inclining to sand, and with subsoil not in
ferior TO the surface; unless the soil 5e good
and deep, it is in vain to attempt to cultivate
luccn.
The preparation of the soil consists in deep
powng and minute pulverizaiion; and, il
our opinion the shortest way to effect this is
to trench it over by tie spade two or three
feet in depth, burying good coat Of manure
il the middle at least one foot from the sur
fsce. This is the practice III Guernsey, where
luceln is ghly priced.
The climate for ucern, as we have already
limited, must be warm and dry; it has been
grown in Scotland and Ireland, and might
probably do well in the southern counties OF
the latter country, but in the former it has
been found to answer The concentrations OF
its admirers.
I he season most proper for sowing lucern,
isas early as can be done in the Spring months
as in this way the plants may be fully estab-
lished before the season becomes too hot = u
X 4 The manner of sowing lucern is either
broadcast or in drills, and either with Or
without an accompanying crop of grain for
the first year. Broadcast and very thin
crop of barley or other Spring grain,i is gener-
ally, and, in our opinion, very properly pre-
ferred
The quantity of seed, when the broadcast
method is adopted, is said to be from fifteen
to twenty pounds per acre, and from eight to
twelve if drilled. The seed IS faler, larger
and dearer than that of clover it is generally
imported from Holland, and great care should
be had to procure it plump and perfectly new
as two years old seed does not come up free
ly. The same depth of covering as for clo-
yer will answer. The alter culture OF luceri
sown broadcast consists in narrowing, to de-
siroy grass anl other weeds, rolling after the
narrowing to smooth the soil for the scythe,
and such occasional top-dressngs of manure
as the state of the plants may seem to re-
quire The topdressnss given to lucern
may be either of the saline or mixed manures.
Ashes are greatly es eemed and also gypsum
and liquid manure of any kind.
Lucern frequently attains a sufficient
growth for the seythe, towaed the end Of
April. or beginning of the following month
and in soils that are favorable for its culture,
will be in state of readiness for second
cutting in the course of II month or six weeks
longer, being capable Of undergoing the same
operation at nearly similar di tances Of time
during the whole of the Summer season.
The application of lucern is also the same
as clover. The principle and most advanta-
geous practice, in the application of lucern,
is the soiling of horses, neat cattle and hogs;
but as dry fodder it is also capable of af-
fording much assistance, and as an early
food for ewes and lambs may be Of great
value in particular cases, whether in a green
or dried state.
The produce of lucern, cut three times in a
season, has been stated at from three to five
and even eight tons per acre. In soling one
acre is sufficient for three or four COWS during
the soiling season, and a quarter of an acre
if the soil be good.
ASPARAGUS FOR RHEuMATIsM AND GoUT.-
A medical correspondent of an English jour-
nal says the advantages of asparagus are not
sufficiently estimated by those who suffer
from rheumatism and gout. Slight cases of
rheumatism are cured in few days by feed
ing en- this delicious esculcnt, and more
chronic cases are much relieved, especially