Ivii. 



Lucerne is the most concentrated food among our green crops at present 

 cultivated, but its excellence ■will be seen not to be very consideral)le 

 upon referring to the analyses cited for comparison at the beginning of 

 this report. LatJujrus sijlvcstris will be seen to contain twice the quantity 

 of food. It is difhcult to understand Avhy Lucerne has not become a 

 greater favourite, entering more into common husbandry than it has done. 

 The advantage of its being a perennial, lasting for ten years, does not 

 appear to have recommended it. Hence, if it were not for the very 

 superior value of Lathyrus sylvestris, I should fear the new plant would 

 not meet with any greater favour than Lucerne has done. Like Lucerne, 

 it seems well adapted for awkwardly-shaped fields near the yards, where 

 it would be convenient for soiling purposes. For suburban dairymen, 

 havins very little land at a high rent, it appears a very suitable plant, 

 and one well worth a trial. Lucerne appears to yield good crops until 

 the tenth year, when the vigour of the plant declines, and it is found 

 necessary to plough it out, and after one or two other crops to sow 

 the seed again ; that is to revert to the sexual generation again. 

 How long Lathyrus sylvestris may remain profitable without a sexual 

 generation (that is, without re-sowing) is at present unknown ; but, 

 like all other plants I suppose it will be found necessary to renew 

 its vigour by sexual intercourse. A familiar example may be found 

 in the potato, in which after a greater or less number of non-sexual 

 generations (those raised from sets), the plant becomes feeble and a prey 

 to disease, and that particular stock goes out of cultivation to be replaced 

 by another reared from the seed. That is the true sexual generation, 

 which, being a general natural law, Avill, no doubt, govern the number 

 of years an established plant of Lathyrus sylvestris will remain a 

 profitable plant. But owing to the fact that the wild variety does not 

 appear to have been observed in pod (see note ante), it is possible that a 

 particular stock may last more than ten years, which will be counted as 

 another advantage. But it would not be wise to rely upon this point 

 until experiment has placed the matter beyond doubt. As to the weight 

 per acre there do not appear to be any data, excepting that furnished 

 by ISIr. Clotten, who mentions seventeen tons as the weight grown per 

 acre. Lucerne appears to yield from three to eight tons per acre, and is 

 cut three or four times per annum. Hence the figures do not appear to 

 be exaggerated, as representing a very good crop. But seeing that the yield 

 of all our crops varies between very wide limits, owing to the ever- varying 

 conditions of soil, manure, and season, I do not think any safe estimate 

 can be given, but if only ten tons were gained it would be eciual to 

 twenty of anytliing else wc can grow. Everytliiug dcpeuds upon the 



