LUCERNE-GROWING IN THE “SEVENTIES.”

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XII, Issue 6, 20 June 1916, Page 461

LUCERNE-GROWING IN THE “SEVENTIES.”

Mr. A. Macpherson,

Fields Instructor, Christchurch, writes :

It may be of interest to many to know that the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, who were the pioneers of many of the improved methods of farming and did so much for the advancement of agricultural and pastoral pursuits in New Zealand, grew lucerne over forty years ago on their big Levels Estate, in South Canterbury (since subdivided for closer settlement) also on their Clyde vale Estate in Otago. The following is from Mr. R. Irving, farmer, of Albury, who at that time was overseer .'bn the Levels Estate : In 1875 we had over 100 acres in lucerne on the Levels Estate. It was sown in rows 15 in. apart and seeded at the rate of 15 lb. per acre, which we found to be plenty of seed. Attention was paid after each cutting to give intercultivation. This, was done by taking the mouldboard off the single-furrow plough, leaving only the share on it, and running this between the rows. Afterwards we used to tine-harrow it. It was a great success, and we usually cut a crop from three to four times during the season. As a hay crop it was unrivalled ; all farm animals were fond of it; It was stocked with sheep some two or three years after it was sown, but it never did well after that. .