LUCERNE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 21 July 1923, Page 3

LUCERNE

POPULARITY IN 'OTHER

COUNTRIES

■(Waikato Times.) , Returns from Canada show that lucerne is .increasing in popularity. It is fast he-coming one of the most important pasture and forage crops of that Dominion. In 1915 something like 98,000 .acres were unde,r lucerne, but m 1921 this area had been increased to 228,000 acres. This ar^a is steadily increasing each year since, until to-, day Canada is depending more and more on this high-grade crop as a standby, especially for dry spells and winter, feed. In the province of Ontario it is making rapid strides, the increase being from 60,000 ucx-es in 1915 to 146,800 in 1919; in Quebec it was from 2860 acres to 28,488 acres. Later figures are not to hand. In the United States of America it is regarded. as the crop of all forages. Undoubtedly its quality as a highly nitrogenous easily-digestible. feed places it so high in the estimation of farmers, in the Argentine and in Australia lucerne has long been regarded as a crop which indicates the progressive landholder. Its inclusion in the farm r.otation avid its successful establishment marks the farmer as among the more enterprising of his district. On the Dairy Farm. In New Zealand it has long been grown in favoured districts like Marlborough and other parts of the South Island. In Hawke's Bay it is not uncommon. In this province it has come to stay, especially on dairy farms where small areas are sown. It can be established on many classes of soil, especially if the sub-soii is free. The land must be clean to give it a fair start. • The area should be kept free of weeds for the first two Or three seasons particularly. With liming and regular topdressing w,ith phosphates and regular cutting it can be successfully -and.profitably grown. -Farmers who are dairying and wish to make the most of their farms should pu<t clown a small area, say up to 10. or 12 acres of lucerne. As the time, to sow is November, early preparation is necessary to get a successful stand.