140 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Feb. 2, 1920. 



When to Sow. 



"The time of sowing is determined by the climate and the 1 ocal weed growth- 

 Generally speaking, autumn sowing gives the most satisfactory results in 

 the west, and is strongly recommended. The autumn sowing produces a 

 crop that becomes well established in the cool winter months, and that 

 stands well the heat and dry winds of the following summer. Spring; 

 sown crops do not become so well established before the summer, and are 

 therefore more likely to suffer. The calm weather that is usual in the 

 autumn favours an even stand, while in. the spring variable weather and. 

 strong winds are frequent and dry out the surface soil, preventing satis- 

 factory germination. As the seed must be kept within li inches of the surface ^ 

 favoiirable weather after sowing is absolutely essential to a good stand. 



" Under some circumstances, however, the weed growth in the autumn, 

 renders sowing at that time unsatisfactory, and if this trouble cannot be 

 overcome spring sowing should be tried. At the same time autumn sowing; 

 has so much in its favour that it is worth a special effort to make the weeds 

 germinate early in the fall. 



"It is generally considered that lucerne should be well established bef ore- 

 frosts occur, but our experience has been that unless the frosts are exception- 

 ally severe the young plants are not injured, even when only just out of the 

 ground. The seeds of barley grass, &c., should be encouraged to germinate- 

 as early as possible ; then the surface should be stirred to kill the weeds, 

 and the lucerne seed sown while the soil is still warm enough to cause 

 germination, a condition that is common even at the end of May. 



" Where spring sowing has to be carried out it sliould be made about the 

 end of August or early in September in most districts. On the colder table- 

 lands it should be a little later. The weather is then favourable to germina- 

 tion, but the plants still have an opportunity of becoming established before 

 very hot weather occurs. 



The Quality and Quantity of Seed. 



" The success of the crop depends more upon the quality of the seed than 



upon any other single factor. Unfortunately, a certain amount of imported 



seed finds its way into the State, and in every case in which tests have been 



made with such seed the crop has been very inferior to crops obtained from 



seed produced by local growers. Farmers should therefore be very careful 



to obtain seed from reputable seedsmen, and locally-grown seed should be 



specified even if it costs a little more. Of the varieties grown here, Tam- 



worth and Hunter River are practically similar in character, while Mudgee 



lucerne is of a finer type. A good sami)le of seed should be sound, mature^ 



plump, bright, and reasonably even in size ; it should contain no dodder nor 



any weed seed. 



Haymaking. 



" Lucerne should be mown just after the first flowers are out. If cut at this 



time the best hay is obtained, and the succeeding growth is stronger. After 



mowing, care is required in handling to prevent loss of the leaves,, which are 



