10 Aug., 1916.] Lucernr Manurial Tests. 459 



surface. The sheep will clean up all weeds and crop the lucerne 

 fairly close. After the sheep are removed, the cultivator should be run 

 over the lucerne, and the tines of the cultivator allowed to work to a 

 fair depth. 



There are many types of lucerne cultivators on the market. The 

 ideal machine is one that is light of draught, stirs the soil to a good 

 depth, and does the minimum of damage to the lucerne. On the whole, 

 the spring-tooth cultivator fulfils these conditions fairly well. In Fig. 

 4 is a view of a lucerne cultivator at work on a 50-acre field of lucerne 

 at the State Research Farm, Werribee. The lucerne depicted in the 

 illustration was closely grazed with sheep and then deeply cultivated in 

 two' directions at right angles early in August. This permits access of 

 air to the lucerne roots and puts the soil in good condition for absorbing 

 the spring rains. The artificial fertilisers may then be applied with 



Fig. 7. — Carting Produce of Lucerne Manurial Trials to the Weighbridge. 



the drill. Lime is most conveniently applied with a lime spreader {vide 

 Fig. 3), and is best applied by itself a week or so before the application 

 of phosphatic fertilisers. 



Summary. 



The results of tests conducted at the State Research Farm, Werribe^. 

 during the past two years demonstrate tliat the yields of lucerne hay 

 may be considerably increased by the application of suitable fertilisers 



(1) Lucerne sown without m-mure gave in two years a total yield of 

 7 tons 17^ cwt. of commercial hay. 



(2) Lime applied at the rate of 1 ton of lime per acre, or its equiva- 

 lent in the form of ground limestone, enabled croj>s of 8.jl tons to lie 

 reaped — an increase of 13 cwt. — whicli was sufficient to cover the cost of 

 the manure. 



