LUCERNE, Medieago sativa, a species of medick (q.v.), one of the most valuable of the leguminous plants cultivated for the supply of green food to cattle. It is a native of the s. of Europe, and has been cultivated there from an unknown antiquity. It is par tially naturalized in some parts of Britain. It is not very largely cultivated in Britain, although in some places very successfully, chiefly in the s. of England; but the climate of Scotland is not too cold for it, aud the different results obtained by farmers who have tried it seem to depend chiefly on differences of soil and management. It is largely cul tivated in some parts of North and South America, and in Peru with great success both on the coast, in all the heat of a tropical climate, and on the mountains to a height of more than 11,000 ft. above the sea; flourishing, however, only during the moister part of the year in the former situation. It endures great droughts, its roots penetrating very
deep into the ground; but loves a rich and calcareous soil,' and never succeeds on damp soils or tenacious clays. It is a perennial and affords good crops for a number of years. It is sown in rows, at 12 or 14 in. apart, and may be mown several times in a year, grow ing very quickly after being mown. The quantity of produce is very great, and no other forage plant is ready for use so early in spring. Lucerne has a rather erect stem, leaves with three obovate-oblong toothed leaflets; purplish-blue or sometimes yellow flowers in many-flowered racemes, and pods twisted two or three times round. It ought to be mown before it comes into flower, as it then becomes more fibrous, and less succulent suad nutritious.