The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-09-17
Alfalfa.

Alfalfa Is beyond doubt, the oldest
cultivated grass known, having been in
troduced into Greece from Medio 5O0
years before the time of Christ, and tbe
Romans, finding its qualities good. culti-
waited it extensively, and bv them If was
carried into France when Caesar reduced
Gaul. 1t is emphatically a child of the
sun, and reyels i'll a heat that would de-
stroy any species of clover. On the rich.
sandy soils of the South it is invaluable
and grows luNuriantly, making enormous
yields OF hay. Its nutritive constitu-
ents are almost Identical with those of
red clover, but 1t has one property not
possessed by the latter, and that is if il
perennial. 1t does not stool as easily as
red clover, and therefore must be sown
rather THICKER. 1t will continue to fur
nish green pasturage later than red clo-
yer. 1t does not grow well on a soil that
has hard pan, nor on thin soils. To
secure stand the ground must be in n
thorough state of filth, well pulverized
and mellow. A want of attention TO
this requisite has caused many to be
dlappolnted in the result. But in well
prepared, rich, gravelly or sandy loan,
1t succeeds remarkably, sending down it's
long tap-roots many feet into the sub
soil, pumping up moisture from below.
and thus will thrive when all other
plants are dropping. In this respect it
IS far superior to clover The tap-root
OF alfalfa grows to be as large as a car
rot. This enormous quantity of roots
permeating the ground to the depth of
several feet necessarily prepares the
land for increased production, the legu-
minous plants deriving the larger part of
their sustenance from the atmosphere
and storing it in the roots, so that fer
tlllzer 1t stands deservedly high The
soil is not only fortified to the amount
OF several tons per acre, but is melowed
from the mechanical displacement and
admiXture of decayed vegetable matter
thus brought about 1t derived its name
-alfalfa-from the Chleans. 1t grows
spontaneously all over Chile among the
Andes, as well as on the pampas of that
country and Buenos Ayres. The French
and Spanish settlements of the Southern
States adhere to it and cultivate it in
preference to all other forage plants |
When properly managed, the number of
cattle that can be kept in good condition |
Oh :" acre of alfalfa, during the whole |
season, exceeds belief. 1t is no sooner
mown than it pushes out fresh shoots, |
and, wonderful as the growth Of clover |
sometimes is in a field lately mown, that |
of alfalfa is far more rapid. In the dry !
est and most sultry weather, when every
blade OF grass droops, alfalfa holds out
its stem, fresh and green as in the genial !
spring. Although luxuriant growth in
France it is a failure in England for want
OF sun and heat. 1t should be cut when
in full bloom. In saving it for hay care
care should be taken not to expose the
plant too long to the sun, as, if this is
neglected. the leaves will ShriVel and
dry so that in large measure they will
be lost An analysis shows the hay to
contain of flesh formers l4.4, of heating
properties 22.5, of crude fibre 400, OF
fat 2.5, OF ash Ga. 1t will be seen that
in tlesh-forming constituents.it surpasses
red clover by one per cent. "-Rurdl Cal
itOruin0