Vol. XXXI, Part 6. JUNE 2, 1920. 



Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, 



Lucerne on the Coast* 



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The Central Coastal Districts.: "^^ 



J. M. PITT, Assistant Inspector of Agriculture. 



Although lucerne adapts itself remarkably well to various climates and a wide 

 range of soils, the conditions are hardly anywhere more suitable for its growth 

 than in the northern coastal districts of our State. The alluvia] soils bordering 

 the rivers in this region are deep and fertile, and as there is a growing season 

 of at least six months and a rainfall ranging between 35 and 60 inches, 

 nothing mucJi better could be desired. The expansive rich flat lands spreading 

 for miles along each side of the Hunter River have long ago earned fame for 

 the enormous output of prime hay, and seed of the Hunter River strain — a 

 broad-leafed, upright growing, early maturing variety — has been distributed 

 far and wide. The rainfall in this district averages slightly over 30 ineheSj 

 and as atmospheric conditions are less humid than in districts further north, 

 growing for hay is cari-ied out more extensively than .perhaps any other 

 agricultural pursuit. 



Along the Manning River lucerne growing is not carried on to nearly the 

 same extent, and although the growth in this region is, on the whole, more 

 luxurious than along the Hunter, the greater annual rainfall (chiefly covering 

 the growing period) and the more humid conditions interfere considerably 

 with hay-making operations, especially in the early and late portions of the 

 season, Most of the fields, in consequence, are cut as green fodder for cattle — 

 dairying being the chief pursuit. 



Further north, along the Hastings and Macleay, lucerne growing has made 

 even less headway, and it is surprising, considering the strides that dairying has 

 made, that lucerne — probably the greatest of all fodder crops — should receive 

 so little attention. The farmers are so well provided for by natural pastui'es 

 that they follow the line of least resistance and allow nature to do the 

 providing, which unfortunately it does not always do. 



The districts north of the Hunter have not had the best facilities in the 

 past for marketing lucerne, b|ir-bound rivers making exporting by that means 

 unreliable. Consequently dairying and maize growing gained the upper hand, 

 but now that these districts have been provided with rail transit, marketing 

 has been made more rapid and reliable. 



It is not so many years ago that fields ranging in age from 12 to 20 years 



and over were quite common, but nowa-days such old-established beds are 



^ few and far between, the profitable life averaging from 4 to 7 years. Many 



Ti suggestions have been discussed as to the reason or reasons for this. Some 



farmers are convinced that the seed procurable of later years is far inferior to 



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