The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1921-04-28
ANCIENT MEDES GAVE ALFALFA TO WORLD
Greatest Fodder Crop Known to Warriors Before
Christian Era Spread Over World BY War
WORD COMMON HERE is OF SPANISH ORIGIN

Malheur County produces more
alfalfa than any county In Oregon,
and Is, I'm fact, one of the largest
alfalfa producing sections In all the
West, yet, perhaps, few OF those so
familiar with it, realize the inter-
esting history of the plant. Few
know how It has followed the wake
of war from Persia Co Africa, Africa
TO Spain, Spain to South America,
and then TO California from whence
It was introduced to Oregon in the
days of 40.
The following interesting review
of the spread OF alfalfa appeared in
the Sunday Oregonlan:
A field of alfalfa, to the casual
thought suggests contented herds
and rich cream, and a general en-
semble OF agricultural content and
neatly painted barns and rural
homes. Yet the friendly herb, per-
fectly at home in pastoral settings,
has known wilder time when its
fame was spread at the point of the
javelIn, and conquered nations
blessed their cOnquerors who brot
Il. War was its agent when civili-
zation, through the vainglory OF
kings, taught culture with the sword
and carved the continents into ma
tions.
"The best fodder Is herba medica,
because when Il Is once sown Il
lasts ten years; because II can be
moved regularly four times n year,
sometimes even six times; because II
fertilizes the land: because all ema-
clated stock fatten on IL; because II
II remedy for STICK cattle; because
jugerum (about three-fifths OF an
acre) suffices abundantly for three
horses for whole year
But for certain quaintness OF
phrasing the foregoing statement
might have been uttered by some
keen young professor OF n modern
agricultural college, intent on con-
densing at lecture the excellent
traits and versatility OF that premier
forage plant. alfalfa, Il was how
ever, written by the Roman granger.
Columella. In the first century OF
the Christian era. and Il sufflces TO
chasten our self-concelt. Much that
we do we'll today, priding ourselves
accordingly. was no secret TO the
anclents. And so with alfalfa.
II Is n singular fact that n plant
30 adapted TO peace should have
migrated I'm the train Wars. Yet
the slow spread OF the purple
lowered fodder from the Median
plains. where II Is first OF record In
the year 500 u. c.. was attended by
many n flashing cavalcade OF ruth
less armored men. by the whistle OF
arrows and the savage cut-and
thrust OF foot soldiers. A plant OF
peace. II ever there was one. Il has
been nurtured by war. To trace It's
progress over the world Is to fol-
low tho trumpets and pennons
II ~ clearly established that the
ancient home OF the plant was In
Media, now northern Persia. and the
SAVIOR OF its origin survives In the
botanical name. "Medlcago saliva"
Even today In England. whore old
names endure longer than battle
monts, Il is the purple medic" or
purple flower OF the Medes, Leaders
in the civilization OF their period, the
Modes gave this excellent fodder To
their neighbors. the Persians. The
great king Darius. bent on conquest
for the extension OF MS domlnions,
and equally shrewd IN providing
forage for his horses and herds,
scattered alfalfa In the wake OF war.
So Pliny says, and he should have
known whereof no wrote. The Per-