INOCULATING LUCERNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 19

INOCULATING LUCERNE.

CULTIVATION METHODS. ESTABLISHING A STAND. An interesting demonstration showing the effect of inoculating lucerne, is to bo seen on the farm of Mr. S. Thomas, of Ivio Ivio, where a crop has been inoculated oither with soil from an old lucerne stand or with culture supplied by the Department of Agriculture. The inoculated lucerne is healthy and vigorous,

but where the seed received no inoculation there is. either no lucerne or the plants are sicklv and stunted.

Referring to Air. Thomas' experiment, Mr. J. \V. Woodcock, Government Agricultural Instructor at Hamilton, stated that it had been claimed in some quarters that lucerne inoculation was not needed. 110 contended, however, that as a lucerne crop was both difficult and expensive to establish, it paid to inoculate. Young crops in the Waikato had dono remarkably well this season, but unfortunately weed growth had been prolific. Ho suggested that the first cut of lucerne should be made before the annual weeds went to seed and that the cut material should be left on the ground to mulch. The exact time of "butting should be determined by the appearance of tho young shoots at tho base of tho plants and this was generally coincident with the flowering of the lucerne. Cutting too early in the first year had a tendency to weaken tho stand. Annual weeds which were so plentiful in the crops this season would do no great harm if tho lucerne were allowed to form the shoots at the base. Tests showed that while lucerne sown without inoculation might appear to thrive in the first season, tho crop felt tho need for tho culture in the second season.

Referring to methods of establishing lucerne crops, Mr. Woodcock said lucerne thrived best in a deep alluvial soil with a low permanent water level. Given suitable conditions of soil, climate, and careful treatment, the crop was truly perennial. It usually did best when the land was ploughed straight out of grass. Since lucerne was a permanent and comparatively expensive crop to establish previous cultivation rhould be careful and thorough. After grass, the land should bo ploughed in the late winter or early spring to allow plenty of time for the turf to rot before sowing the crop. Tho field would be better for a thorough cultivation with the springtoothed cultivator. Lime was often applied before the last cultivation and harrowed in. After a medium tilth had been obtained the roller should be used. The seed bed should be firm and fine and should be rolled immediately before drilling. It was usual to apply \from lOcwt. to one ton of lime per acre to tho cultivated land before sowing and about 3cwt. of phosphatic manure with the seed. Basic slag or a mixture of equal parts of super and lune was recommended. The super and lime should be prepared a week before sowing. Mr. Woodcock said Marl borough and Hunter River seed were the most generally successful varieties in the Waikato, ; vtcl from 151b. to 181b. with a germination of 80 per cent., should be sown per acre. Mr. Woodcock went on to describe methods of inoculation. He suggested that 4cwt. of soil from an old lucerne stand should be distributed per acre. The soil should be distributed on a dull day or before evening and disced or harrowed in. Another method was to mix the seed with lewt. of inoculated soil together with lime and manure and sow through the manure box of the drill. A third method was to use culture supplied by the agricultural Department or by proprietary firms. November was the correct time to sow. Intercultivation and top-dressing the stand once a year were desirable.