LUCERNE AT ASHBURTON.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 17, 1 March 1918, Page 8

LUCERNE AT ASHBURTON.

RESULTS FROM THREE OUTS,

The following extract from the “Dominion” will prove most interesting to our farmers, and shows what enormous returns can be secured from a small area of ground:— Mr A. Macpherson, Fields Supervisor, has forwarded a Christchurch paper Inspector Branigan's report on the results of three cuttings of lucerne on the Ashburton A. and P, Association's grounds. The lucerne was weighed in a green state. The results were, for the different varieties: —Turkestan, first cut, 3.935 tons per acre; second cut, 1.389; third cut, 926; total 6.250 tons per acre. Peruvian, 6.945,

2.662, 1.851; 11.458. Poitou or Northern 7.523, 2.778, 2.546; 12.847. Provence, 7.176, 2.778, 2.778; 12.732. Russian, 7.060, 2.083, 2.083; 11.226. Spanish, 7.176, 2.430, 2.430; 12.036. Dryland, 7.176, 2.315, 1.851; 11.342. Hungarian, 7.871, 2.430, 1.967; 12.268. Arabian, 7.408, 2.083, 1.967; 11.458. Patagonian, 8.334, 3.125, 2.546; 14.005. Marlborough, 8.334, 3.241, 2.778; 14.353.

Mr Macpherson remarks that it will be noticed that there is a falling off in weight from the first cut. This is due to allowing the race water to flood the area to the extent that the crowns of the plants were submerged, in November, the water remaining there for some considerable time. This resulted in the death of several of the plants, and the weakening of them all, and no doubt the stand will be affected more or less during the whole of the season, ft will be well, he thinks, to top-dress the area with lime, at the rate of one ton per acre, this autumn, which will have a beneficial effect upon next year’s crops. The weights of the two heaviest yielding varieties, Marlborough and Patagonian, when converted into hay, would give an approximate yield of 3J tons each, which, at £4 per ton, gives to date a total value of £l4 per acre. At least one more out should bo obtained from the area before the season is .ended.