To Test Lucerne.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 October 1913, Page 4

To Test Lucerne.

Lucerne is boing planted on an extensive scale at the Weraroa Experimental Farm this season, 20 acres of lnnd now being prepared for the purpose. The lucerne fields are also being extended at the Moumahaki Experimental Farm, in order to test exhaustively the value of the plant for grazing purposes and the conditionk under which this may be done to the best advantage. It is generally conceded that if a successful stand of lucerne is to bo secured preparation for it should be made in the preceding season. The best means of doing this is to plant in a well-culti-vated soil a cover-crop, to weaken the weed.growth and provide the essential clean seed-bed. For the purpose a legume is to be preferred, such as tare?, peas, or crimson clover. Eape is also useful. The saire may be said of mustard, if followed by careful cultivation. Boots, well grown and kept thoroughly clean, aro also valuable preparatory crops. The lucerne-fields at Raukura are attracting very great attention, prin^ cipally by reason of the fact that the "plant is growing on what was at one time considered mo«t unsuitable soil for such a plant to thrive in. Judging by Euakura experience it appears that lucerne Avould be successful iv almost any description of soil, providing the land is not saturated with water.

'Die Department is again offering to farmers seed, lime, and inoculated S'ul, in order to enable them to test lucerne in their localities, and thereby to bring about more general utiliza tion of a plant that is apparently in separable from the best results being obtained by the dairy-farmer and the grazier.

The New Zealand Sheepowners' and Fanners' Federation has decided to again direct the attention of the Ministor for Lands to the unsatisfactory position of compensation for improvements in cases where runs are not again let on pastoral lease, and especially in regard to suiface sowing, which cannot be removed as other improvements can be.under the existing law. The federation is of the opinion that all improvements should be placed on ihe same footuig as, rabbitproof fencing.