LUCERNE 161 



it should be borne in mind that the surface soil is 

 the storehouse of plant-food, and that if the land 

 in the process of levelling be denuded of its top 

 layer at any spot the effect is likely to be felt 

 subsequently in thin and stunted growth. Fine 

 tilth is required for the small seed ; and as the 

 plant is to remain in the land several years 

 repeated harrowings at intervals in hot, dry 

 weather are necessary to cleanse the land of 

 weeds. It would be a mistake to plough and 

 harrow the land and then go on to plant, as we 

 can do with maize. Cut- worm being the principal 

 enemy of lucerne in the country, it may become 

 advisable to bait the land with poisoned grass 

 before planting. 



It is better to sow in drills than to sow broadcast 

 w^hen land is to be irrigated, because drilling permits 

 of the use of light Planet-junior hoes between the 

 rows. Stirring the soil with these small hoes not 

 only kills the weeds, but is the best means of restor- 

 ing mellowness to the land after it has been caked 

 by irrigation. Rows may be 12 inches apart and 

 made across the slope of the land to catch the 

 water and insure even distribution when irrigat- 

 ing. About 15 lb. of seed per acre is probably 

 what this alluvial land requires, allowance being 

 made for some loss through cut-worm and perhaps 

 not quite fresh seed. After testing all the prin- 



XI 



