The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-12
Alfalfa Glover

The introduction and cultivation of clover
has always indicated period of progress
and prosperity to the agricultural industries
of the countries where it has been tried,
writes R. NJ Bell in Home and Farm.
OF the numerous varieties Of clover that
have found favor with the agricultural peo-
pie, and that seem readily to adapt them
selves to peculiar conditions aud soils Of the
world, none are more historical, interesting
and practically useful than the variety
which shall here be called alfalfa it's Span
ish name. 1t is also known as purple
medick, Chilian clover, California clover
and lucern. its French name 1t is de-
scribed in the agricultural report of 1854 as
a perennial variety Of lucern, which sue
ceeds well in our middle and southern
states, and differs from thu common lucern
OF Europe only in the color Of its flowers,
which are purple Its botanical name is
Medicago saliva.
1t has been known to agriculturl5ts from
the earliest ages of the world. The Romans
introduced It from the land of Media before
the first century of the Christian era.
Alfalfa was the Moorish word for this
plant, and when they introduced it into
Spain it was so called by the Spaniaris. and
continued to be by the Spanish colonists.
More than 2, 600 years ago the Romans cul~
tivated it in Lombardy and Switzerland.
The MOors cultivated it in Africa before
they took possession Of Spain. We do not
know how long ago or what were its
effects upon the soil of Asia. We
do know that the Spanlards introduced it
into Chill, Mexico and California. 1t can
not be SAID of any other plant, that where
ever it has been introduced it has found
favor and given prosperity to carefully con-
Quoted agriculture. 1t has sometimes been
unable to stand the freezing and thawing
of exceptionally bad winters in some Of the
more westerly regions, but had sufficient
pains been taken in affording reasonable
protection during the first year, the results
might have been different. Besides, a fail
ure or two does not prove any thing. l have
seen 1t growing as luxuriaptly in Vermont,
New York and Missouri as in California,
Utah and Colorado 1t had the repu tatiou
of far surprising all other forage plants in
every instance. | found it at Fort Pickens,
in Pensacola bay, Florida, growing out of
the whitest sand, which appeared to lack
every characteristic of productiv eness. 1t
has been supposed to belong TO warmer
climates and more sandy soils, aud thus has
been overlooked. The evidences now are
that it grows almost any place that it is put,
and not only maintains its reputa ion as a
hardy plant, but its ability to exceed the
plants long cultivated in those regions. 1t
may have conditions of soil and climate
favorable to Its best results. but it is doubt
full If there is any place where it may not
be successful
At Reno, New, the soil seemed, OF all
soils have ever seen, the least adapted to
any system of productive agriculture.
Sage brush grew everywhere, and the soil
was like a desert otherwise. A 40-acre
tract, however, was cleared, and irrigation
converted that sandy soil into most pro-
ductive field. Alfalfa and water did it.
An offer OF $500 an acre was refused. So
prodigious was the growth that it was told
that horse with 30-foot picket rope could
neither eat it out nor tramp it out during
the growing season.
AS "A HAY CROP.
1t is cut as often as it blooms. which is
about every thirty days. The climate
would vary the number of cuttings in a
season. In California four and sometimes
six cuttings are taken; in Vermont about
three cuttings are made. The yield of hay
is variously reported. but runs from one
and half TO two and half tons per acre
at each cutting. At Denver, Col, an old
friend said his alfalfa meadow was better
than gold mine, because it was a sure
thing, and depending on the price of hay,
gave an income of from $50 to 500 per acre
annually. And just as fine crops OF alfalfa
Tor lucern) can be grown in Middle Georgia
and Southern Georgia too if good seeds are
sown at the proper time on fertile soil and
the proper care given it afterwards.