On the Cultivation of Lucerne. 239 



broad-cast and harrowed in with the barley^ in the same manner 

 as clover and other artificial grasses are sown. 



1808. In the spring of this jear, after the first mowing, the 

 whole field was manured with soot, at 30 bushels per acre, after 

 which it produced two other mowings. 



1809. Part of the field was again manured this year, and the 

 mowing was commenced on the 23rd of May : this mowing, with 

 a small addition of oats, supported thirty horses seven weeks ; the 

 second mowing supported twenty horses seven weeks entirely ; and 

 the third mowing, with a small addition of oats, supported twenty 

 horses six weeks. The produce of this year, at a moderate esti- 

 mate for the keeping of the horses, amounted to \\l. per acre, 

 after deducting all the expenses, rent, and other charges. 



1810. The first mowing of this year supported thirty-five 

 horses eight weeks, with a small addition of oats; the second 

 mowing nearly the same ; and the third mowing, although not so 

 productive, was of great value in an occupation of nearly 2000 

 acres of arable and heath land, with a very small proportion of 

 pasture. 



All the above particulars, with the details, having been furnished 

 to our National Board of Agriculture (for which in 1811 they 

 were pleased to vote me one of their medals), gave an impetus 

 (by its publication in their Reports) to the cultivation of this 

 valuable plant, upon a practical and extensive scale hitherto 

 unknown. Having ever since that period continued its cultivation 

 upon the same system, and to the same extent, with unvaried 

 success, I am now desirous of again directing the attention of 

 every farmer to this subject, by placing before them the result of 

 my experience in former years, as well as in the year last past, 

 that its beneficial effects may, through the organs of our Journal, 

 be again diffused, so as to make it still further known, it having 

 been justly remarked to me, by one of our most intelligent and 

 practical farmers, ^^that no farm (if it has a suitable soil) should 

 be without lucerne, in the proportion of 1 acre (at the least) to 

 every four horses." 



1841. My growth of lucerne this year, in a field of 8 acres of 

 sandy soil, with dry sandy loam for its subsoil, being the third 

 year's growth (the seed having been sown 20 lbs. per acre in 1838 

 by Bennett's seed-engine, with a crop of barley), produced me in 

 its first mov/ing this year (which commenced May 24th) six weeks' 

 entire support for thirty horses, keeping them in good condition and 

 in good health, with constant employment : the second mowing 

 began July 3rd, fed me twenty horses in six weeks ; and the third 

 began Sept. 15th, supported thirty horses fourteen days. After 

 which the autumnal feeding with sheep was equivalent in value to 

 the expenses of cleaning, <&c. in the previous spring, which was 



