The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-10-15
Alfalfa, FiIaree and Burr CIO-


Mr.. EDITOR - herewith hand you
specimens of Alfalfa, Alfilaria and Burr
Clover. They all belong to the clover
family, and are grown from seeds pro-
cured in California last year. / am sat
isfied they will all do well here in Giles
county, and form a valuable addition to
our forage crops.
The Burr Clover resembles the white
clover in the popularity Of trailing
along the surface of the ground. 1t has
a small yellow flower, and the seeds are
contained in a spiral burr about the size
of pea. These burrs are the distinct
i've feature of this variety. They are
quite numerous, and are said to be re-
markedly nutritious for stock, particu-
larly for sheep.
The Alfilaria, popularity called Filaree,
is the native growth of California, and
is found in great abundance throughout
the Southern portion of the State. 1t is
a beautiful plant, and has the fragrance
of the variable bean, or sweet grass. 1t
grows to the height of two feet or more,
and has quite an upright tree-like ap-
pearance. The flOcks and herds keep
rolling fat on it all the year. The
blooms are yellow, very small and form
along the end of the stems for the space
of an inch or two.
l have about a quarter of an acre of
Alfalfa which 1 sOwed last April in
drills some three feet apart. The seeds
all terminated in a few days after being
sown, but made very little Roadway on
account of the hard, dry ground, and
the unfavorable season. Still it kept
alive, and when the slater rains" came
it grew off rapidly and made from
eighteen inches to two feet growth. 1t
is now a most inviting sight, and proves
beyond doubt that it Will be an excellent
as we'll as valuable addition to our for
age crops. When it is remembered that
nearly all of the red clover sOwed this
season failed to catch on account of the
drought, and that the Alfalfa passed
through with good stand, think no
one will doubt which will be the most
reliable crop. Then the same patch of
Alfalfa will continue green and Vigor-
Gus for a long period of time-Some say
fifty years. 1t will yield, according to
the evidence of those who have raised 1t,
about ten tons year to the acre, and
makes superior hay. Observe what
tap-root the Alfalfa has! What better
subsoiler can we get for the purpose Of
loosening up and preparing FOR crop
food the stiff substratta of clay which
the old and young fOgy bar shears have
'.slicked'' over for the last fifty years
proposed 70 undermine stalk OF al
falfa to ascertain the length of the root,
but soon discovered it would require the
sinking of a shaft, then some adits, and
then, perhaps, some ting-together
with machinery, tools, sc. In conside-
ration of this BlGgHuS opus, discreetly
rave up the undertaking. Some writers
on this subject are pleased to say that
Alfalfa and Lucerne are the same, but
such is not the case, and any one who
has seen them growing together would
readily distinguish the difference. Al
falfa grows three, four, or even five feet
high, and has a small blue bloom. Luz
ceTne forms a small, compact stool near
the ground, and is in many respects like
red clover. Alfalfa is native to Chilli in
south America, while Lucerne first OBJ
tanned notoriety in France.
Yours sc. T. NJ. TOPP.