ALFALFA or LUCERNE. Medicago saliva, Linn. Leguminam. Figs. 271-282.
By J. M. Westgate.
A deep-rooted, long-lived, perennial forage plant. Stems 1 to 4 feet high, numerous from a crown ; 'naves numerous, pinnate ; leaflets 3, obovate-oblong, prominently toothed near apex ; flowers purple, rarely white, clover-shaped, in oblong, compact racemes (Fig. 271); stamens 10, united into a tube around the single pistil, one of them on the upper side partly free ; pods slightly pubescent, coiled in 2 or 3 spirals (Fig. 273) ; seeds several, kidney shaped, one-twelfth inch long. Alfalfa is a staple forage plant of the agricultural districts of southern Europe, southwestern Asia, South America and western United States. It is native to southwestern Asia, and was in use centuries before the Christian era. It spread successively from Media (Persia), to Greece (Persian War, about 480 B.C.), Italy (first century A.D.), Spain (Saracean Invasion, eighth century A. D.), Mexico and South America (Spanish Invasion, sixteenth century).
Alfalfa was introduced into California from Chile (1854) and has spread over the irrigated regions of the West. It came from Mexico to Texas in the early part of the nineteenth century. Its production has been extended more recently to the non-irrigated parts of the Great Plains region. It was introduced into New York from Europe as early as 1791. Its culture in the East has been confined to comparatively limited areas. Several sections of the South are proving to be adapted to its growth. It has been grown, experimentally at least, in all parts of the United States, and is competing with red clover in certain sections of the East, especially on well-drained calcareous soils. It is the principal forage plant of the United States west of Iowa and Missouri. In 1899 the acreage in the United States was 2,094,011, and the tonnage 5,220,671.
Varieties.
The varieties are largely adaptive (drought-, cold-, disease- or alkali-resistant) and little struc tural difference is to be noted between them and the ordinary variety, which includes the great bulk of European- and American- grown seed. There is no apparent difference between the California seed intro duced originally from Chile and the European importations into the eastern United States.
Turkestan.—The orig inal importation w a s secured from Turkestan by N. E. Hansen, under the auspices of the United States Depart ment o f Agriculture. Seed from the drier, colder parts of Turkes tan has produced a hardier and more drought resistant crop than ordinary alfalfa, though appar ently no hardier than Grimm and northern Montana seed. The forage is sweeter and has finer stalks
than ordinary alfalfa. As seed production in the United States is difficult, the commercial seed is largely imported. Experiments indicate that it is slightly superior in the semi-arid West, where the moisture is sufficient for but one or two crops a season of ordinary alfalfa.
Grimm.—This was first noted in Carver county, Minnesota, where it is hardy. It was introduced by the Minnesota Experiment Station. It is apparently slightly hardier than Turkestan alfalfa. Perhaps identical with Sand lucerne.
Dry-land.—This is the name giren throughout the West to seed (especially Utah-grown) pro duced without irrigation in areas of light rain fall.
Arabian. — Arabian alfalfa was introduced through the United States Department of Agricul ture. It is of apparent value in the Southwest, and is a prolific yielder. The stems and leaves are pubescent.
Sand lucern.—This is thought to be a cross between Medicago sativa and M. falcata. It has been grown successfully by the Michigan and Wisconsin Experiment Stations. Its production is still in the experimental stage, but it is proving hardy and a heavy yielder on light, sandy soils in Michigan. The flowers vary from yellow to purple. The seed came originally from Germany.
Propagation and production.
A deep, well-drained, non-acid, fertile soil reasonably free from weeds is required. Excessive alka linity (in the West) is overcome by flooding and draining ; acidity (East) is corrected by limin g. Well-rotted manure is a satisfac tory fertilizer. A deep, permeable subsoil is necessary, as the roots normally extend to depths of six to twelve feet, and sometimes to considerably greater depths. (Fig. 275.) Inoculation of the seed or soil with root nodule bacteria is generally advisable in the humid regions. Repeated harrowings after plowing produce the fine well -settled seed-bed required. For seeding in the West, twelve to twenty pounds, and in the East, twenty to thirty pounds of seed per acre are used, broadcasted and harrowed or drilled in one and one-half inches deep, or less in clay soils, generally without a nurse crop. Choking out by weeds the first summer and winter-killing the first winter are to be especially guarded against.