WORLD’S BEST FODDER.

Matamata Record, Volume X, Issue 805, 17 February 1927, Page 3

WORLD’S BEST FODDER.

LUCERNE-GROWING. Argentine Figures. Alfalfa, whose luxuriant herbage feeds The lab’ring ox, mild sheep, aftd ' fiery steeds: Which ev’ry summer, ev’ry thirtieth morn, Is six times reproduced, and six times shorn. —Andulasian Poem. Lucerne, or alfalfa, to give it its correct Arabic name, which means best fodder, is not used in New Zealand to anything like the extent which it should be used. From a stock-carrying view-point, one acre of lucerne is equal to two acres of pasture, yet, despite this capacity which would enable farmers to double their stock, it is not yet the recognised fatcor in New Zealand fanning operations to which its value as a fodder entitles it. In this connection it is interesting to note the extent to which this crop is grown in other countries. A few of the more important are as follows: —

United Kingdom, 58,000 acres. Canada, 196,428 acres. Germany, 607,529 acres. Hungary, 1,500,000 acres. United States, 8,224,000 acres. Argentine, 18,818,930 acres.

It will be seen from the above how far we lag behind other countries in the cultivation of lucerne. It is interesting to note that of the/ huge area grown in the Argentine, the bulk of it is used as pasturage and only a small amount is saved for hay.

Many farmers appear to be afraid of tackling lucerne in a comprehensive manner, and instead of sowing a field with it they mark off a few acres near the - homestead and experiment there. Lucerne is- a bold ci -.> that responds to bold measures in js cultivation. Pottering about on a few acres near the homestead' is only inviting failure, for such paddocks, though being used as night paddocks, are generally full of every weed known to farmers, hence'the lucerne crop is choked before it gets a chance to establish itself.

When given a fair go in a clean paddock of some size lucerne shows remarkable growth. By the action of* its root nodules it also has a wonderful capacity for increasing the fertility of 'the soil. At Moumahaki plants which were measured show r ed an average growth of 41 inches for three days, or 1.42 inches per day. During a dry spell, the crop over a period..of 23 days averaged 1.22 inches per day, and allowed of a cut being taken in six weeks.

At the Putaruru Demonstration Farm good growth has been secured from the seed. Five months from the standing ti-tree the seed was sown, and a week after sowing measured plants showed more than three inches of growth. Five weeks later the whole crop of 15 acres averaged nearly nine inches above ground, and presented a beautiful even green appearance throughout the field. In odd places greater growth was made, but on the whole the crop is wonderfully even, and presents a striking contrast to the low, stunted scrub which surrounds it on the virgin land on either side.