TESTING LUCERNE.

Waipa Post, Volume V, Issue 207, 25 April 1913, Page 4

TESTING LUCERNE.

EXPERIENCES IN MARLBOROUGH. Excellent results under varying conditions are reported to have fieen achieved with lucerne in the Marlborough district, this highly prized fodder having proved its superiority over grass pastures on all classes of land. In stony localities in the vicinity of the Taylor River and the Old Ren wick Road, on which land the best of clovers and grasses would only grow sparsely in the spring and autumn, lucerne, properly sown and cultivated so as to enable the roots to enable the roots to strike to an adequate depth, has, according to the Marlborough Express, given excellent results.

One object lesson in the possibilities of lucerne growing is afforded by a piece of stony land at v the top of Maxwell Road. This piece of land —a ridge of shingle with hardly any soil on it—used to be regarded as practically impossible from a producer’s point of view. A few years ago Mr Smale tested it with lucerne, and it now responds every season with a growth capable of a number of cuts each year. One other lucerne experiment in which Mr Smale is interested is worthy of mention. He acquired recently a property of about 70 acres to the east of the Riverlands racecourse, and about 45 acres of it has been sown with lucerne. The land, being near the sea, is salty, and the question has been whether lucerne would find soil of this character congenial. In this case the lucerne has been equal to the occasion. One plot of some 17 acres devoted to lucerne two years ago is reported to have a strong, even growth, and has yielded a large stock of hay, besides affording a a good deal of grazing. In addition the crop is now bearing a promising show of seed. The plant having been well established, and resowing not being necessary, the 17 acres should give still better results next year. The other 28 or 30 acres was sown with lucerne last season, and over the main portion of this area the plant has had a favourable “strike.” Bare patches appear here and there, but the evidences are that the lucerne will eventually hold its own over the whole area.