LUCERNE CROWING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143838, 12 July 1912, Page 7

LUCERNE CROWING.

INTERESTING FACTS. A correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle says:— Lucerne growing as a stock food is claiming considerable attention just now, and many articles are being published in connection with tide matter, which is of the utmost importance to ! farmers. Being aware of the fact that Mr. O. Banner, who receiftly arrived here from Hawkesbury College, New South Wales, to take charge of . the Feilding Technical School, had made a deep study of .lucerne growing, and that any observations he might make would be of considerable value, I made it my business to wait on him concerning certain points not covered by Others. -Mr. Banner said that the tendency of authorities was to present the feeding value aspect, and also that of general cultivation. At the same time, he jnentioned, there were other points that required consideration, namely grazing, soiling and haymaking GRAZING. With regard to tho first point, Mr. Banner urged ‘that lucerne should not |jo pastured during tho first or second season of its growth,' the plants not being sufficiently strong to withstand the inevitable trampling it receives. Neither will lucerne stand continual grazing, so that farmers should note, and not keep stock upon it too long. Ho considered that it can be safely grazed if sufficient stock is put upon it to eat it down quickly, and then moved off the pasture before the young plants commence to shoot. Expert growers for grazing purposes invariably use temporary or removable fences, which can be shifted as required. In this way injury to tho .plants is prevented, and little loss ot food will occur. Another fact'worth remembering

is that stock should not be put on lucerne when it is wet—in tho . early morning when tho dew is upon it, for instance, or immediately after rain. A reasonable chance must bo given for tho plant to rid itself of a large proportion of its moisture; otherwise, if lucerne is wet at the time of eating, the liability to bleat is increased. This is especially so wbou tho plant is in tho early stages of growth. Tho point then arises as to when the cattle should bo put on the pasture. Mr. Banner recommends that the cattle should not go on in a hungry condition. Appetite should bo partly appeased with grass, green maize, or other similar feed. Of course, after a while, when cattle become accustomed to it, they can be left on lucerne permanently without injury. ■ SOILING. • Tho next jxjint touched on by Mr. Banner was Soiling, or in other words growing crops and feeding to stock in sheds, yards, or small paddocks, instead pf allowing the cattle to help themselves by grazing. Hie general adoption of this principle has been delayed on account of the extra cost, but when it is remembered that valuable stock may be lost in .grazing by bloat, or J’olion, it can easily bo seen, said Air. Banner, that by the exercise of a little more trouble in cutting and handling, such losses as indicated can be saved. Several authorities estimate ijiat from three to,six head of cattle ciin be by soiling, as compared with grazing. Still, there was slight liability to bloat, even by that method. HAYMAKING.

As with grazing, it may also impart a taint to the'milk, and dairymen are advised to- convert the produce into hav whenever there is sufficient available. This then brought him to the third point, and he could not emphasis© too strongly the advantage of growing for hay. Haymaking was, he thought, the strong and most remunerative feature of successful lucerne cultivation. In this stage of operations there were some very important points that should bo observed, particularly .as lucerne was more difficult do cure, and a greater loss was occasioned when improper treatment’was given than obtained in the case of any other hay crop. The first point for consideration in haymaking was the tim© to cut. Lucerne, Mr. Banner said, should be out just after the firßt flowers have appeared—say when one-tenth is in .bloom. After lucerne flowers, the nutriment in the stems and leaves is withdrawn, and is transferred to the uppei* portions of the plant. The-stems harden and become indigestible; and of less value as food. The palatahility is of course injured, and stock did not relish the food so well as that cut at a younger stage. The leaves wither and, begin to fall, which results in loss of weight. ■ These are the richest portions of the plant, and every effort should be directed towards retaining them in .the hay. There was no advantage, he said' in allowing the crop to remain uncut past the stage recommended—just after the bloom has appeared. The only justifi r< able reason for allowing the crop to remain is when the weather is unsuitable for'' haymaking. Then again, a loss in succeeding cuttings occurs when cutting past the time indicated. This is due to two things (1) the succeeding crop does not start away so quickly as when the cut has been made earlier, as at this stage young shoots begin to grow from the bottom of the stalks. These are cut in the process, and the result is that the succeeding crop is slower in making a start; (2) loss occurs, through the greater time which the' crop occupies tlie land. Lucerne only grows during the summer, and good crops can be obtained at frequent intervals For instance, if the average time for a cut of lucerne be taken at six weeks, and five cuts are obtained in a season of 30 weeks, it means that if tie cut is allowed to stand seven weeks, only four cuts can be obtained. Then again, haymaking should take place in dry weather, otherwise rain will dash the leaf off. Again, in wet weather moulding is liable to start in the “cocks.” The time the hay is allowed to remain in the i'ooclts,” of course, depends upon the weather conditions. It is therefore almost impossible to accurately state when the hay is at the right stage for stacking. Little danger exists from insufficient drying of the leaves, but the chief danger ©xists in the stems. These should ’bo examined carefully to ascertain whether they have lost their sax>piness. If they are sappy and moist, the hay should not be stacked. It is therefore right to bring it in when it is possessed of a crisp feel, rather than a dead damp feeling. Lastly, it should bo stacked in sheds, because it does not shed rain well, and should never be stacked in the open unless thatched or otherwise covered to protect it from rain. Speaking generally, Mr. Banner considers that lucerne is easily the best hay feed. It is rich in protein, and is useful to improve the feeding value of carbonaceous feeds, such ns wheat or maize. When lucerne can bo produced it also forms a cheap and effective substitute. for bran-or .oil- c.ak.efi..