LUCERNE-THE SAVE-ALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3231, 16 February 1916, Page 12

LUCERNE-THE SAVE-ALL.

A welcome break is furnished to the traveller through the dried-up pastures from Papakaio to iXmtroon by the few green wiliow • trees certainly, but it is not until one approaches Otekaike that any satisfactory iarmer's outlook is obtained. Some use has here been made of the water races for irrigating purposes, but the most conspicuous feature of all is obtained in locations where lucerne has been planted. As depicted by the Oimaru Mail, green is the prevailing tinge of the country from Mr Alec M'Kenzie's to the end of the fiats at Mr J. T, Parker's. Various feed crops have a healthy appearance, but what arrests the eye, and thereafter claims the whole attention, is the five-acre patch of lucerne from which, up till the last Duntroon sale, Mr Parker was feeding 46 milking cows. Mr Parker in an interview with a Mail reporter gave information which should be of value to those who may be thinking of making provision against future drought years. Mr Parker took up his section when the Otekaike Settlement was first opened up eight years ago, and the third year was faced with the severe drought that caused a total failure of crops in the district and gained the settlers a rebate of one year's rent. He was walking along the railway line, which had been burnt off, as is customary, on exarch 9, and was surprised to notice plants of lucerne on April 2 (seedlings from a crop that had occupied the adjoining land in the days of Messrs Campbell Bros.) putting forth plentiful growth. He pulled one stalk, and on getting homo put the rule over it. It measured 14in. He then and there determined that at some time he would plant a trial patch of lucerne. Twelve months ago last April he planted the present crop. A crop of potatoes and two crops of wheat had been taken off the land, which was thus clean. Having cultivated the soil, he sowed 101 b of lucerne and about a bushel of Cape barley broadcast. The soil was fairly moist after a wet harvest. The paddock was then rolled. The seed used was procured from Messrs Dalgety and Co., and was New Zealandgrown. He has just finished the third cut since November 5, and the lucerne where ho began ie now over 2ft long already. Water in Mr Parker's well is 31ft from the surface; but he has no fear for the lucerne, even though another drought year should supervene, and is confident that the crop will improve annually. He considers that, if anything, he sowed too thickly, as a plant five yeais old needs a yard all round it lor the stalks to spread. The crop has never been irrigated. From plants cut early in January may now be extracted stalks 2ft 6in long. Mr Parker states that the best results are obtained by cutting the crop with a mower, and, as far as labour is concerned, he found that, thus working, one man could easily feed sufficient with a dray to his 46 cows, his horses, pigs, and fowls, all of which thrive on it. When making hay, he found that if the lucerne was left for five days on the ground after being cut, while still limp, it could be stacked with safety. Cut in March, lie fed the hay to stock in October, when it still retained its fragrance, and, if damped, resumed almost in full its quality when fresh cut. In winter time, thus treated, pigs and fowls ate greedily of it. Another crop of five_ acres has been planted on the hill, which .also bide fair, when thoroughly established, to almost equal that on the flat, although it is in a dry situation on soil thickly impregnated with lime. Ho also tried the experiment of spreading two stack bottoms on the bare hillside, and finds that hardy individual plants are now making headway there, or would do so were it not for the rabbits. He intends to plant a little every year until he has 25 acres of it, from which time he will regard his troubles over whatever the season. He estimates that the seed yield would be three sacks to the acre. At 2601 b a sack and Is 3d per lb, the seed of the five acres alone —-which could readily be saved annually in good years without precluding the making of a good store of hay for winter feed —would bring him in £159. The crop was in the fullest bloom this year on November 20; but the small portion of the third cut since November 5 still standing (now up to the horses' flank's) is a miss of heavily fragrant flowers; and Mr Parker is seriously thinking of saving the seed. Compared with rape for lamb fattening, ho pomts out that lucerne is there to the hour every year without fail or dread of the many pests siid eventualities that threaten rape, and its first cost is its last, as each year its drought-resisting qualities improve. He thinks that lucerne should be ranked with the "dog, the woman, and the walnut tree," for a portion which ho recently ploughed and harrowed in his. orchard is In better shape than ever. Indeed, next year he intends ploughing the crop and rolling it to improve it. This bear 3 out Governments tests which were made.

Plots were disced, bastard-ploughed (without the wing of the share), and thoroughly ploughed. The latter gave the best results. The crop should bo mowed for three year*, and may then be grazed with safety. The best tunc to sow is early in March, and a nurse crop to eive safetv fioni hosts and winds is essential. Barley is the ideal, as both thrive together. None seeing Mr Parker's lucerne patch, and learning how thoroughly it has filled his needs, could hesitate as to the advisability of following his example. It is amazing that more farmers have not already done so.