The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-10-23
LUCERNE.

The following article on Lucerne
appeared in the Charlotte Democrat in
the year 1876:
"Alfalfa," as it is called in Spanish,
or English Lucerne, (Medicago Stativa)
Darius. 1t was t~ransplanted from
Persia to Greece about 500 years B. G.
1t is extensively cultivated in Europe,
and especially in the south of France,
as a forage plant, but 1 am persuaded
that it's value is not as fully under
stood and appreciated as it should be
in the South.
I have for the last eight years ok
perimented with Red Clover, Orchard
Grass, Hungarian Grass, Tor German
Millet,) and Lucerne. I place the lat
ter 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 can
not be excelled for soiling purposes.
1t has helped me wonderfully, more
than any other grass for carrying out
the plan of soiling which l adopted
several years ago. 1t is we'll relished
by all kinds of stock, both green and
dry, and is exceedingly nutritious.
In some respects it is decidedly SUI,
perior to Red Clover, as in being per-
ennial, and consequently remaining
long in the soil, one seeding will last
for ten years or more, producing good
and profitable crops. When once fully
established it will yield heavy crops,
and may be cut, if on rich soil, once a
month. [ have cut it as often a. eight
times in n season Its yield com
n much earlier 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 deep into the
subsoil. It's roots have been known
to reach four feet down in the ground.
1t is a well known fact that all legumi-
nous, broad leaf plants derive also a
large portion of their nutriment from
the atmosphere, while the luxuriant
foliage serves to shade the soil and
thus increase fertility.
j. We would urge every n of u
readers, who have a horse, COW or pig
to prepare a small piece of ground and
seed down in Lucerne at once. The
seed a be had at any Of the drug
stores in Charlotte. | have ordered
some lately for some parties from
Wilson & Black, Charlotte, at fifty
cents per pound. Nine years ago [
paid eighty cents per pound.
To succeed in growing Lucerne, a
soil neither too light nor too stiff
should be selected, very heavily ma
nured, broken up very deey, if pos
sible SUBSIDIZED, and rendered mellow
by successive plowings and borrowings.
Lucerne may be sown either in
drills or broadcast, with or without
grain. Twelve pounds of seed are re-
CURED for one acre if drilled, and
twenty pounds if sown broadcast.
| have succeeded best in sowing it
in the Spring, from the middle to the
last of March, and in drills at a dis
lance of sixteen inches apart, covering
the seed lightly. The cultivation of
Lucerne is somewhat more difficult
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 recommended,
as the hoe or cultivator can then be
used. As soon IS the young plants
are a few inches high, they should be
welded carefully, and the intervals
/ kept clean. This Needing and clean