SECRETARY'S REPORT. 107 



grown a few years on the same soil, and then broken up, but 

 after the land on which it lias been grown has been cultivated 

 with some other crop or laid down to the natural grasses a 

 length of time equal to that during which it had previously 

 remained in lucerne, it can safely be sown again with it. 



The seed of lucerne, when fresh and good, is yellow, glossy 

 and heavy. If the seeds are white, it is an indication that they 

 are not ripe. If they are brown, we may infer that they have 

 been subjected to too strong a heat to separate them from their 

 husks. In either of these cases, it is not safe to purchase or 

 to rely upon them. The same may be said of clover, and it is 

 desirable to try them by a simple method which will be indi- 

 cated hereafter in speaking of the selection of seed. As the 

 seeds of lucerne are somewhat larger than clover seed and the 

 plant tillers less, it is necessary to sow a larger quantity per 

 acre. It may be sown in the spring along with grain crops, as 

 clover often is, and not a very large crop should be expected 

 the first year. 



Lucerne should be cut as soon as it begins to flower, or even 

 earlier. If cut much earlier it is apt to be too watery and 

 less nutritious and cures with greater difficulty ; if later, it 

 becomes coarse and hard with woody fibre, and is less relished 

 by cattle. It may be cut and fed green and is an exceedingly 

 valuable plant for soiling cattle, or it may be cut and cured and 

 used like clover hay ; but in either case, it must be cut before 

 blossoming. 



It is thought by many, that lucerne will not endure the 

 climate of New England, but I do not think it satisfactorily 

 proved, and I have been somewhat minute in speaking of it, 

 in the hope of inducing more careful experiments on a scale 

 and under circumstances sufficient to determine its relative 

 value for us. I am the more anxious on this point from the 

 fact that I am convinced, after much study and observation of 

 our climate, that we should direct our labors in farming more 

 with reference to the frequent droughts of summer to which 

 we are liable every year, and from which there is no immediate 

 and practicable escape except in thorough drainage and deep 

 tillage, which most farmers are unwilling to undertake at pres- 

 ent. " When properly managed, the number of cattle which 

 can be kept in good condition on an acre of lucerne, during 



