LUCERNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1598, 8 July 1882, Page 7

LUCERNE.

Lucerne is a perennial plant of the leguminous order, ft thrives best in a rich loam, with a warm and open subsoil to allow the roots to ponolrate to their full extent ; in a congenial soil they will reach to a depth of four or live feet. Its deep-rooting habits enable the plants to defy the driest summer. Rich river flats composed of an alluvial deposit are remarkably well suited for its culture, but any frue, warm soil, well tilled and manured, will grow heavy crops of lucerne. It will be found the best policy to give the land a deep and thorough preparation for this plant— for the matter of that, the same may be said of any root or forage crop ; but lucerne, being a perennial plant, requires a more liberal treatment in the first place, and is more likely to recoup the farmer for his outlay than an annual crop. A small piece of ground properly prepared will probably produce more food than a larger area indifferently prepared, with little x>r no manure. If frequent and heavy cuttings of this crop are expected, the ground must be provided with a store of manure to enable it to stand the severe strain upon it for several years. In the month ' of Juno or J uly the ground intended for lucerne should be deeply ploughed and snbsoiled, and the surface left as rough as possible to admit the sweetening and mellowing influences of sun, air, and frost. Early in September plough in a liberal coat of short farm muck j harrow until a very fine tilth is obtained. No trouble should be spared in making the'ground perfectly smooth and free from" 1 roots of grass seeds, &c. ; much future troiible will be saved by attending to this before the seed is sown. The seed is sometimes sown broadcast, mixed with a sprinivUng of barley or oats ; but if a heavy soiling crop is required, drilling 1 in rows nine inches apart is recommended, as the horse-hoo can then be occasionally j - un between the rows ekirmg the first season. The seed is small, and must be only lightly covered— about the same depth as clover. If drilled in rows nine inches apart, 151b of seed per acre will suffice, but for broadcast sowing 201b or more will be required* Tl.o seed must be plump, and perfectly new ; two-year-old seed docs not come up freely. After the seed is sown cover with chain bar* rows, and if the ground is dry compress tha soil with a heavy roller; by this means the moisture is retained near the surface, and the seed loses no time in germinating.* The aftertreatment consists in keeping weeds down, and giving such lop-dressings of manure as tha siate of the plants may seem to require. Once in the autumn and again in the spring the harrows bhould be run over the ground, to loosen the surface and stimulate the growth of the plants. Lucerne will flourish all the more from being sheltered from tho strike of violent winds, which check the growth considerably, it being an upstanding plant, with small and delicate leaves. It ia advisable, if soil is suitable, to choose a plot on the north side of a plantation, or to select a small paddock of a few acres surrounded with a good hedge. A small paddock can be cheaply manured by folding a flock of sheep in it for a month or two before ploughing the ground. The droppings of sheep are a canital forcing manure, and is lasting in its effect's.

ljitcerne gives a great weight of food in a season, whether grazed, cut green for soiling, or made into hay. As a green food it is superior to clover for milch cows, causing them to yield milk abundantly, and imparting no unpleasant flavour to milk or butter ; but cows must not be allowed much at one time, or they may be blown with it .is with clover. It contains, according to analysis by ■ agricultural chemists, less water in its composition than other forago plants — namely, 77 per cent. It. contains more flesh-forming and fat-producing: substances than clover or vetches, those havingfrom 12 to 17 per cent., and lucerne 20 per cunt. Ono aero of a good crop is. sufficient to> keep five cows during- the soiling season. It is also of value as early food for ewes and lambs. Under favourable conditions it is a plant of early and rapid growth, and the first to be rauiy for the scythe. Lucerne makes excellent hay if cut at the right time, which is as .soon as tho blossom appears ; if left longer it becomes hard and sticky. It must be turned frequently, and carted before it gets so dry that the leaves drop off in handling. The fattening and milk-producing qualities of lucerne should recommend it to graziers and dairymen, especially in tho neighbourhood of large towns, where land is valuable, and the chief object in the maximum weight of produce* from a minimum area of ground. Earners around the towns of Victoria and New South Wales recognise the value of lucerne, hay, and send in large quantities of it every season. It is well adapted for the climate of Australia, as it suffers little from drought. ' A few acres of lucerne ought to bo established on every farm, and a certain supply off green food • would then be available for the milch cows, however dry the summer may be. We speak from experience, having mown a paddoclc of lucerne three times each year for sovoral years in succession, the paddock being close to the farm-yard to avoid the haulage o£ manure.