Year: 1875

This grass ought to be grown to great advantage in the Gila and Salt river valleys, and on all mesa land that can be irrigated. It is destined to be most valuable product in Arizona, therefore any information about Its growth ought to be acceptable to very many of our readers. It grows luXu- riantly in Nevada. and by reason of our heavy Summer rains, should do better here. A late report of the Commls- sioner of Agriculture says:

 The soil and climate of Nevada seem to be particularly adapted to this plant. The subsoil is well drained, and every Iacre of sage-brush land that can be ir- Irrigated after the alfalfa has becomeI established, say two or three years old, Twill produce from two to four times asI much hay as the best bOttOm-lands. The sage-brush land is rich in mineral plantfood, in consequence of there not being rain enough to wash 1t out of the soil and cary it away to the sea. A soil which seems to be destitute of vegetable matter will, when sown with alfalfa, in few years be converted into a rich, black lOam, filled with vegetable mold. The soil on land which is sownt to grain Tn sometimes blown away tOI the depth to which it is plOwed, while land which is laid down to alfalfa is constantly catching and retaining it.. In one instance piece of land which was once rough and rocky was soWnI with alfalfa; now the rough places are smooth and the rocks are covered upa with fine, black loam.

 Referring to its use and growth in California, the report says:

 The roots are not of the fibrous and woody nature of the other grasses Hogs feed upon them with the greatest avidity, and often follow them down toI the depth of two feet or more, although this by no means destroys their vitality. Its peculiar home seems to be Tn al warm, dry climate, where the ground never freezes, and frOsts rarely, if ever, occur. It does best in a well-drained

  trable subsoil of an argillaceous nature. In this climate it may be mown six times, or oftener, each year, and be de- pastured during the Winter or for al period of three months. When yOrngI it is extremely delicate, and should be- sown in connection with barley orI wheat When this is removed it will generally be found to have attained the height of two inches, and thereafter the surface requires to be kept moist by ir- as the roots have little pene- tratiOn, and the young plants would otherwise soon Wither on exposure toI the sun. The second year it is able tOI take care of itself, and the fourth 1t ar rives at full bearing. The roots ramlfyI so widely and reach to such a depth that it is able to bid defiance to drought It does not begin to fail in productive ness in less than five years. When this occurs it may often be restored to its original vitality by blowing and thor ughly pulverizing of the surface; theI portion of the roots remaining below the reach of the blow will put forth fresh shoots and the field be soon again carpeted with verdure WhenI this grass is generally cultivated in the warmer climates, the northern and more temperate regions of this con- tinent will lose their present reputed superiority in stockraising. TheyI have hitherto retained it because mol species of grass known would retain its vitality during the long hot Sum- mers of the semi-tropical and tropical climates. Alfalfa has this desirable | peculiarity, joined to more than twice the productiveness of any northern grass.

 From the foregoing, it will be seen that the Arizona valley and mesa lands are just the kinds for the growth of this valuable grass.