The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-02-05
1912
Alfalfa.

Department OF Agriculture Ut w ash
ington as RichdavlSoa,id ,Scdbrd, is ex-
citing some attention in this vicinity
and other parts of the State. Many
not heretofore acquainted with it will
now give it trial. Below we give
a communication written for the
.Edrne Jouy1edl concerning Alfalfa,
known to botanists as the MedacGgO
syotsua, which seems from the de-
scription to be equally valuable. Ii
any of our readers are sufficiently in
terested to notify us of the wish we
will endeavor to procure seed.
"T'his is the Spanish name OF a
plant which in my opinion is:destined
to do more for the South than any
other. 1t is called by the French
-Foia de Bomgogoe burgundy hay)
by the, English, Lucerne, and is the
Medicago Satica OF botanists. An
experience of three years has con-
WINGED meathat it is superior in pro-
ductiveness and nutritive value to
any other plant with which l am sc-
+luainted. / first sowed it in the
Spring of rs but did not cut it until
the next:.year. My first cutting was
the 1st of May; second 9Th OF June;
third 18th and Goth OF July, and
fourth late in August. The second
cutting was weighed and yielded at
the rate of one ton to the acre. l can
fully endorse all that Mr.. Howard
says of it in his valuable Emanuel Of
grasses" In suitable soil and with
proper culture the first year, five or
six tons Of hay may be cut from one
acre. Louden says it may be cut
every four or five weeks, and will
Weld one or one and a half tons per
acre at each cutting. The author OF
the agricultural articles in the Penny
Cyclopedir' (Dr. Lindsey. says that
its growth is SO rapid and. luxuriant
that no other plant can be compared
! foot above the 80 wien the ) !
grass and red clover inown at the |
same time are only few inches. The |
quantity Of cattle which can he kept
in good condition during.the season
from May to October exceeds belief.
Mr.. Howard says one acre will sup
ply five horses during the entire
year. He says ut ...na,est not be pos
sasyed," but in California, where it is
grown extensively, it is grazed as
soon as the growth is sufficient, and
the ground dry enough, and it is said
that COWS are the best stock with
which to Craze it the first year. In
one county alone in California, Kern,
from 5000 to 10000 acres were in
Alfalfa in 1875. 1t is no doubt well
adapted to the climate Of the South
and to much of our soil 1t requires
q deep sandy loan. The roots go to
an astonishing depth, in some cases
10 to 20 feet hence it is not affected
by drought. While other grasses
wilt or die it remains green. MIR.
Howard gives ten pounds of seed to
the acre. but twenty would do better
particularly if sown broadcast, which
I am inclined TO think is the better
plan if preceded by cleansing crop,
as cotton or turnips. It's capacity
for resisting drought, its prolific and
rapid growth, its great nutr;tive val
lie, and the fondness of all animals
for it, whether green or dry, and
lastly its requiring no re-seeding for
twelve or fifteen years, gives it adj
vantages which no other plant pos
sesses. In 1875 the seed cost 20
dollars per hundred pounds in Cali
fornia. They are now, no doubt,
cheaper. Two year old seed will not
come up well. The only enemies to
its growth are a wet subsoil and a
foul surface. This last must be over
come by careful cultivation, and this
only Tor the first year, after that it
will take care of itself, and gain the |
z.,o,, oil othor Oraccas and |