The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1880-09-16
HISTORY AND CULTURE OF ALFALFA.

A. NJ: Beebe has handed us a paper
giving the history and culture of Alfal-
IA, which may he ofinterestt to our farm
ers The circular is from the House
of X. J. Trumbull X Co, 4l9 and 42l
Sansome St, San Francisco California,
where Mr. Beebe obtained his seed,
Any one wishing to learn about its
growth i'm Saline County would do
well to call on A. NJ. Besbe.
Following is the history and culture
of Alfalfa:
Alfalfa, Lucerne. (medicdgo satirdt).
This plant was cultivated in Greece
$40 years before Christ, having been
brought from Media. Later it was ex-
tensively cultivated by the Romans,
and through them, introduced into
France. by whom it was introduced
into Chile is not known positively,
but its cultivation there, at present, Is
very extensive; and in the paInpas Of
Buenos Ayres il grows wild i'm the ut
most luxuriance. From Chile 1t was
brought to California, where 1t has
proved itself the most valuable Of all
forage plants. In Europe it is known
rs Luccync, and on the Pacific Coast
as Alfalfa. There is no doubt that,
originally. they were the same, but
the notifications Of climate have so
affected what We know or style Us Al
falfa that il may now he regarded rs q
distinct variety 1t sends down its
tap-roots i'm mellow soils to great
depths, having been found in sandy
soils thirty feet in depth-far below
the reach of drought. The flowers are
u pale blue, violet. ar purple. Its seed
is larger than red clover, and more OF
il Is required to the acre. When the
seed is ripe, il is yellow, plump, and
heavy; ii unripe, it is small, and Of q
greenish hue; and IL blightef or blast
Ell, il is dark brown. when proper
" managed, the number Of cattle
which can be kept in good condition
on an acre of Alfalfa, during the
whole season, almost exceeds belief"
Twenty to twenty-five sheep are not
considered too many to the acre when
well established. Thequantity Ofhay
produced varies very much, rs all soils
are not equally adapted to il, nor are
all growers Of il equally careful in its
culture, hut we are warranted in say
ing that an acre will produce from six
to sixteen tons Of hay in a season
From experiments made in the East
erH States, by many persons to whom
we have sent samples Of the seed. We
are convinced that it is quite hardy.
.Siecfioa Of .SoH.-We are satisfied
that many attempts which have been
made to grow Alfalfa, and which
e.sl efPtt hint tn hal
selection Of improper soil Thin soils,
and compact clay soils should be avoid
ell, for in neither will IL succeed To
twill succeed, however,
i'm light soil, which has \ permeable
subsoil consisting Of loam, or sand, or
gravel, int which its roots can pene-
trate aud imbibe the moisture and
found far below the reach Of
NEST other plants. For Alfalfa, n
suitable subsoil is Of the utmost inl-
portanee. A comparative shallow soil
will do for the short-lived, red clover,
but Alfalfa. which, ifprol'er managed.
will yield abundantly for twenty-five.
years ut least, should have = soil that
will ofiet no hindrance tO the extern
sion of its rots.
Culture. -Thoroughly mellow and
prepare the soil by clean and careful
fillage Have one pillow follow the
other, and this done in the most
manner. Harrow smooth |
and fine. Sow. in California. twenty
pounds Of good. clean sod To the acre. |
| In our opinion. sixteen pounds is
sufficient in the States east Of the |
for there they are favored
with continuous moisture. which |
tends To make the plant grow more |
bushy, and fully cover the ground
The ss,e,i should he ''bsishei In" and |
n light ruler passed over IL to property !
United the seed. In Genital and |
Southern California, the sod may he |
sown during the F;sn and Ear;y SprssJ- !
In the Eastern and other States, sub |
ject tn serve Winter weather. u sA0skd !
NOT be sora tin all danger If .f-o~f Il |
fhrSssd IL .SpriaJ. Alfalfa should lc /
cut as soon ~ IL begins TO flower. or I
even . little earlier; IL cut much |
earlier. IL Is apt To be too watefy and /
less nutricious; II later, IL becoWes |
enanR and hard, and h Sen reliahed /
by mftle. In - sseat slssuh q he ~
Dovs1 - - - Dsar tAe out ss1sea,
nehe un0onE<nI'Y 1UofDD