The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-01
Lucerne or Alfalfa.

We Ike the first name better. We be-
came acquainted with this plant in our
earliest years our home garden had che
boriers on either side Of the walks mark
Cd by rows Of lucerne. For half cen
tury those rows held their own against
oil sort Of abuse. says J. b. Honeycut In
Farm and Ranch. How long u would
have continued TO grow there, We nave
no way OF telling. The old home with All
lbs fond memories was turned over 50 the
negro tenants and after planting the gar
den in cotton for several years, they sue
ceedcd Ia getting rid Of the lueerne Ia
thcr paid sixty cents per pound TOT
those seed Those rows OF living green
are among the precious memories Of child
hood
From this we are inclined 90 think that
when we have secured a set or stand OF
iuccrnc. we have it for a lifetime. or even
for succeeding generations. THIS Is one
great point in lts favor. OF course. y
can be- destroyed by neglect or abuse
hut not by culture and use.
Value az "A Forage Crop-In point OF
WELD and feeding value. lucerne stands at
the head OF che list. Throughout the
south II o. green all winter. II begins
growing early IN spring and with iaNor-
able seasons may be cut four 90 seven
times.
II Is particularly valuable as green
forage crop You begin cutting as soon a.
~ t. sixteen inches nigh. II you cut ana
feed dav by day. by the time YOU nave
gone over q few acres u Is ready 10 cur
again where YOU first begun. Used In THIS
way. YOU have a perpetual green food az
suufncr and fall. cows show an Increased
Weld % milk aud butter from the hrst
day IL Is given them. And they decrease
a. soon as you stop the ration OF lucerne-
This viii be true no matter what cther
food you use. Nothing can take is place
In the dairy.
GOOD Tor Hay-If desired fer hay. YOU
heain cutting as soon as u Is ~ ruiz
bloom Il a. easily cured and makes
nrs;-clags hay. You can get from four 10
six cuttings as the seasons and soil may
10 good or had. ON good soil two ions
rer cutting Is not an unusual yield one
ana , hnlf may bee counted a safe aver
arc So YOU get from tx % ght tons pct
acre per season. -,
All stock are fond 81 H. Horses anu
mules keep fat and hogs grow wei "heh
fed luccrne.
I, ii not recommended for grazing par
ttcularlv. The caps which furnish the
shoots are generally above ground and
hence liable 10 be bitten on by cattle or
hoEs. -
anywhere We do not know any oth"i
forage plant that has so wide q RANGE
~ climate and soil adaptation. II grows
IN over the United States. The south
sserns especially suited to its wants.
Plenty Of rain reioices a. but owing 20
us deep roofing u has wonderful power
for resisting drouth
How TO Plant Luccrne.-The roots grow
decpcr than any other field crop. often
penetrating from seven 20 twelve inches
through the stiffest clays. Hence the
-on should be broken very deep. ana
narrowed very often. Twelve 20 htteen
mounds OF seed should then be sown
broadcast per acre and cover lightly.
This should be- done Ia September or early
October or February The fall sowing "a
better. II will greatly help 10 use four
hundred pounds per acre Of acid phos-
phete ami kainit mixed IN equal proper
lions II viii be sull better II you have
grown a crop OF COW peas and cut them
for hay TOP dressing once year with
shc above OF with stable manure or both
will help
Every farmer should have lucerne
patch or field No farm IL complete
without 60. Wherever a COW Is KEEP
luccrne should grow for her. They should
go hand and hand.
For profit and for beauty. nothing equals
luccrne Fields OF living green beauty
and enrich the farm. and help 20 keep
the boys and girls happy and content
upon tho old farm home
n absolutely prevents an washing. and
leaves the soil rich.