LUCERNE CAMPAIGN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9373, 31 October 1921, Page 4

LUCERNE CAMPAIGN.

"Lucerne utilises the soil twelve months m the year, and produces as many crops as water and sunshine will allow. It is both beautiful and practical, profitable and inspiring, and all we can get out of.lt will be only just enough." That is the claim of the Canterbury Lucerne Campaign Committee on behalf of this wonderful fodder crop, the merits of which will be elaborated by Mr A. McPherson, an enthusiastic advocate of the productivity of lucerne, at- » meeting of Ashburton farmers to-morrow. The opinion of farmers appears to be unanimous as to the ' great qualities of lucerne as a fodder crop; what they wish to have proved to their satisfaction is that it is practical and profitable. It is urged that the cost of establishing lucerne is more than commensurate with the returns from it. This is the sticking point which, we under* stand, is preventing a more universal adoption of lucerne m this County. Mr McPherson will be asked what it costs successfully to' establish the crop and if cost can be reconciled with reBults by comparison with English grasses, rape or turnips, then there is little doubt of the eucceßß of lucerne m the County. To take an extreme case, asparagus might be an excellent fodder crop for sheep or cattle, but the cost of its propagation would be prohibitive. Farmers wish to know that the same objection, m a much lesser sense, of course, does not obtain, against lucerne. The discussion of comparative costs should prove most interesting, and it is hoped that farmers will be present m large numbers at the meeting to-morrow to present any objections to lucerne, and hear Mr McPherson's reply. The present time is one m which every suggested avenue for increased production should be thoroughly explored, and to-mor-row's meeting should therefore haye universal 1 support.