LUCERNE SOWING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 3

LUCERNE SOWING.

NO SEED OBTAINABLE. 'A CROP THAT IS GAINING IN FAVOUR. Tlioro.is said to be no seed obtainable in New Zealand of lucerne. This is to bo regrotted, for the interest in lucerne growing has lately increased considerably, and numbers of farmers who had not previously grown the crop had intended this season to plant experimental plots. It is understood that lucerne seed has been scarcely obtainable for the last two months, the period when the seed is usually sown. Merctiante say that this is due in part to an increased demand which occurred last season on top of light stocks generally. This resulted in stocks of seed becoming exhausted, and as the Australian output of that season was also light, the supplies were not replenished. Consequently there was not the usual carry-over of old seed. The demand in the south has been specially brisk this summer,' and such stocks as were available in. the north were drawn south.' . . ■ •The first lots of new season's seed from Australia will begin to arrive in Wellington next week, and although the best months for sowing have passed away, those farmers Who aro very keen on giving the crop a trial will no doubt still make small sowings and take what risks the lateness involves. The chief risk, of course,. is from frost. It is found that frost injures tho plants if it etrikes them when they are very young and tender, but does them no harm after they are once past the tender early stage, wherever lucerne is sown, therefore, every effort should be made to encourage fast growth and good tilth, a firm, fine seed bed, and a dressing of lime, to be followed later by superphosphate are the chief considerations. Shelter also is a powerful factor in encouraging good growth in the early stages; and where this is not otherwise provided it may be secured by sowing oats thinly with the lucerne.

It is already an established fact that lucerne will grow well in the North Island. Specially successful has been Mr. Carter, the farm manager of Porirua Mental Hospital. Hβ has used lucorno hay for fifteen years past, last wiuter's quantity .being 50 tons. Speaking recently about tho raluo of lucerne, he said thero was nothing bettor for fattening or for producing a good flow of milk. Stock were very fond of it. It made the very best silage. Spring growth of lucerne began about. August, and a cutting could be made in November. Four other cuttings could be got before May. Stock could be grazed on it if necessary, but this was not advisable. A top dressing of manure in winter was beneficial. Hβ recommended sowing early in spring, so that the plants could get a good start of the weeds and choke them down, and also become Well established before the autumn frosts.' The plants wore susceptible' to frost only until they were about two inches high. After that the frosts did them no injury. " ' If to these virtues one adds the fact that Income will root to a depth of 25 feet and the worst of droughts; that it gives the heaviest crops of fodder known; that it is about the richest of all greon-feeds for flesh forming;'that it;makes the soil richer in nitrogen instead of poorer, by/getting its mtrogen from the atmosphere; • and that when once established it lasts for very many years, _ yielding heavy crops of fodder or nutritious hay and silage for scarcely more than the trouble of cutting it; then it must be. recognised that those farmers who have caused the shortage of lucerne seed this seaBon are on a good thing." ■■■ "■ Where, owing to the best time of Bowing having passed, farmers may desire to sow some other crop instead of • lucerne, they will probably do best by selecting dun oata end vetches mixed; This crop' would be ready for spring use, but lucerne, in any case, would not come into profit till if was longer established.