LUCERNE GROWN IN SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 14

LUCERNE GROWN IN SOUTHLAND

Experimental Trial At Tuatapere SURVIVAL AFTER FROST An experiment to determine the relative merits of lucerne and Montgomeryshire red clover for hay is being conducted by the Department of Agriculture at Tuatapere in the Wallace County. The site chosen for the experiment is terrace country on the bank of the Orawia River where the soil is gravelly loam on a gravelly subsoil. It has never previously been ploughed, and has been down in grass since the bush burn many years ago. On January 22 last one acre was sown in red clover and another in Marlborough lucerne. Two tons of carbonate of lime were applied to the area on December 18 and the seed was sown with two cwt. of carbonate of lime broadcast, the quantities being lb lb of lucerne and 101 b of red clover. Then weeks after the sowing the establishment in both plots was fairly good but a little patchy in places. lhe lucerne was from two to four inches high and the clover approximately one inch but in a healthy rosette form. On June 14, five and a-half months after sowing, the clover had provided excellent cover and was making fair growth. The lucerne varied from two to 12 inches in height, but was showing the effects of frost. It was not as well established as the clover. On September 6 last the lucerne had been cut back by the frost but was then making a growth from three to six inches. 'There was a fair amount of grass growth on this plot. The clover had provided more ground cover and the growth was from two to three inches.