PERSISTENCY REWARDED.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 5, 15 May 1913, Page 506

PERSISTENCY REWARDED.

HOW LUCERNE WAS ESTABLISHED ON AN UNPROMISING MEDIUM. .

G. DE S. BAYLIS.

The land upon which this experiment was carried out -is a light loam about 8 in. to 10 in. deep, upon a medium heavy subsoil— property of Mr. B. Morris, Rangokokako —typical of the soil found upon the lower slopes of the hills in the district.

The land was ploughed and well cultivated, which fact was testified to by the freedom from weeds of the crop grown. • Lucerne was drilled in on the 27th November, 1910, with 2 cwt. of slag to the acre, in 7 in. drills. 'On the 23rd February this was cut for hay. Subsequently the crop made little or no growth, and on portions of the area, where perhaps conditions were less favourable, it started to disappear.

Upon examination no nodules were discovered upon the roots, neither had the roots penetrated to the depth they should have done in the particular soil. Later on the crop which had made a good stand, became very patchy, irregular, and sickly. The opinion formed upon examination was that the roots had found the subsoil too raw and too ■ poor in available plant-food. The -crop, had proved a failure, and consequently it was decided to plough it in.

Mr. Morris, however, prefers to farm his land rather than permit it to farm itself. The land had clearly proved itself incapable of growing lucerne. He adopted, therefore, a suggestion made to him to endeavour .to make the land suitable for lucerne. In 1911 die put half the area into carrots, after liming it at the rate of 6 cwt. per half-acre, and using 158 lb. per half-acre of super, blood and bone, potash, and gypsum with the crop. The other half-acre was sown in swedes, 6 cwt. of lime being applied, 85 lb. of a mixture of super, bonemeal, potash, and gypsum being sown with the seed. The carrots yielded a very fair crop, but the swedes proved a failure, owing to the fly.

According to the scheme, the land was to be ploughed to a good depth about October.’ Previous to ploughing, 2 cwt. slag and 1 cwt.

kainit were to. be broadcasted over the acre. It was then to be occasionally cultivated to keep it from weeds, and the seed sown late in November, 1912, with 1 cwt. slag and | cwt. kainit per acre.

I visited this plot on the 26th February. Much of the lucerne was in flower, and was fully ready to cut. On the hill-crest it was about 12 in. to 18 in. high, and on the better land from 2 ft. to 2 ft. 6 in. or more. It was of a rich green colour, and plants were dug up, even upon the very crest of the hill-slope —upon the poorest and thinnest soil—with an abundance of nodules clinging to the roots. (A light sprinkling of inoculated soil had been given .to the land previous to sowing the seed.) I understand that a heavy crop of hay has been since cut from this plot. . It is again making good growth, and is of a rich green colour. Since it is now deeply rooted, healthy, and vigorous, I think Mr. Morris may be congratulated at having brought' to a successful conclusion, an experiment which had partially, failed.

In all experimental work the farmer who thinks often gains more valuable information about his land from the experiment that fails than from the one that succeeds. Had Mr. Morris been content to pronounce lucerne a failure, and to have nothing further to do with it, nor give further thought •to it, the time spent in his previous experiment would have been time wasted. As it is he has not only established a good stand of lucerne upon his property, but has qualified himself to give valuable information upon the necessary preparation of the soil in that particular area in order to bring about the successful establishment of lucerne.

National prosperity originates on the farm.

The frontispiece to this issue, “Changing Pastures on a Dusty Day,” is a picture of the crossbred ewe experimental flock (Lincoln-Romney) of the Ruakura Farm of Instruction.

Home.consists of the roof-tree, the fireside, a good woman, and children. Is the house worthily set in a fair-sized plot of ground ? Is it planted about and adorned with trees, shrubs, and vines ? Is it so good a house as the home deserves t-The Breeders' Gazette.

Do not leave repairs to the busy season, when attention to them will probably have to be again postponed. Do them now that you have the time. Plan out your next season’s work well ahead. Method is always more profitable than haphazard work. Make your head save your heels.