Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-07-12
@eadiuq fur the Sahbath. The farm aud ;fireside.
LUCERNE.

Alfalfa, as it called in Spanish, or Eng
lisb, Lucerne, (Medicago sativa) has been
known from the time of Darius. 1t was trans-
planted from Persia to Greece about 500 years
B. G. 1t was extensively cultivated in Eu-
rope, and especially in the South of France,
as forage plant, but am persuaded that its
value is not as fully understood and apprecia-
ted as it should be in the South.
have experimental, for the last eight
years, with Red Clover, Orchard Grass, Hum
garian grass, (or German Millet) and Lu-
cerne. I place the latter at the head OF all.
1t gives the greatest amount of green food or
hay, than any other plant we have, and with
the least trouble after the first year. l am
satisfied that Lucerne cannot be excelled for
soilng purposes. It has helped me wonder
fully more than any other grass, for carrying
out the plan of soilng, which | adopted sew
eral years ago.
1t is we'll relished by all kinds of stock,
both green and dry, and is exceedingly nutri-
tious.
In some respects it is decidedly superior to
red clover, as in being perennial, and conse.
quently remaining long in the soil, one seed
will last for ten years or more, producing good
and profitable crops. When once fully estab-
lished, it will yield heavy crops, and may be
cut, if on rich soil, once month. have cut
it as often as eight time in one season. Its
Weld commences much earlier than clover and
continues latter in the season. 1t stands the
winter better than clover. Drought does not
seem to affect it, In the dryest weather, when
all other vegetation is dropping Lucerne will
be fresh and green.
Its effect is to improve the soil rather than
exhaust it, since it sends its long fusiform roots
into the subsoil Its roots have been known
to reach four feet down in the ground. 1t is
we'll known fact that leguminous, broad
leaf plants derive also large portion of their
nutriment from the atmosphere, while the
luxurant foliage serves to shade the-s and
thus increase fertility.
We would urge every one of our readers,
who has horse, COW or pig, to prepare
small piece of ground and seed down in Lu.
cerne at once The seed can be had at any
of the drug stores in Charlotte. have or
dered some lately for some parties from Will.
son & Black, Charlotte, at fifty cents per pound.
Nine years ago I paid eighty cents per pound.
10 SuCCeeu III SIOWluS. huCoIhoj " eo'i hoi
ther too light nor too stiff shouldb selected,
very heavil y manured, broken up very deep,
if possible subsoiled, and rendered mellow by
successive blowing and narrowing. Lucerne
ma, be sown either in drills or broadcast, with
or without grain. Twelve pounds Of seed are
required for one acre if drilled, and twenty
pounds if sown broadcast.
| have succeeded best in sowing in the espring
from the middle to the last of March, in drills
at distance of sixteen inches apart, covering
the seeds lightly. The cultivation of Lucerne
is somewhat more than that Of any other
grass the first year.
The plants are very tender the first year,
and weeds are very injurious, and crowd out
the young plants, which are slow in starting.
For this reason sowing in drills is to be re-
commended, as the hoe or cultivator can then
be used. As soon as the young plants are a
few inches high, they should be weeded care
fully, and the intervals kept clean. This
wedding and cleaning should be done several
times during the season.
Lucerne should be cut rs soon as it blooms,
since, if left long, the stalks become woody ;
if cut much before, it is watery and innutri.
tious. One or two cuttings may be obtained
the first season on rich soil, thoroughly mel
lowed, and prepared by careful tillage, cul-
tivated clean until the plants are we'll set.-
Rev. A. L. SToUGH, in the Shelby Banner.