808 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III- 



5033. Lucern may be transplanted^ and when the soil is very rich and deep, it is said 

 to produce very large plants ; but such plants, from the bulk of their stools, are not 

 likely to be so durable as those of a less size, and on the whole, for this and other reasons 

 relative to expense, the plan of transplanting does not seem advisable unless for filling up 

 blanks. 



5034. The afier-culture of lucern, sown broad-cast, consists in harrowing to destroy 

 grass and other weeds ; rolling, after the harrowing, to smooth the soil for the scythe, 

 and such occasional top-dressings of manure as the state of the plants may seem to re- 

 quire. Where lucern is drilled, horse-hoeing may be substituted for harrowing, which, 

 as already observed, is the only advantage of that mode of sowing. The harrowing may' 

 commence the second year, and the weeds collected should always be carefully removed : 

 light harrows may be used at first, and in two or three years such as are heavier. In 

 succeeding years two harrowings may be required, one early in the spring, and the other at 

 the close of the summer. For these, and especially the last, Arthur Young recommends 

 the use of a harrow of such weight as is sufficient for four horses, and which does not 

 cover a breadth of more than four feet. The mode of hoeing, either by the hand or 

 horse-hoe, or of stirring by the drill harrow, requires no description, 



5035. The top-dresdngs given to lucern may be either of the saline or mixed manures. 

 Ashes are greatly esteemed, and also gypsum and liquid manure of any kind. Arthur 

 Young advises to apply dung, in the quantity of about twenty tons to the acre, every five 

 or six years. Kent, however, thinks it a better practice to put a slight coat on annually 

 in the spring season. Some recommend a slight top-dressing sown by hand every spring. 

 The farmer will in this, as in every case, exercise his own judgment, and be guided by 

 the wants of the plants, the return they yield for the expense bestowed on them, and the 

 equable distribution of manure among his other crops. 



5036. The taking of lucern by mowing for soiling, or hay, or by tethering, hurdling, 

 or pasturing, may be considered as the same as for clover. Lucern frequently attains a 

 sufficient growth for the scythe, towards the end of April, or beginning of the following 

 month ; and in soils that are favorable for its culture, will be in a state of readiness for 

 a second cutting in the course of a month or six weeks longer, being capable of under- 

 going the same operation, at nearly similar distances of time during the wliole of the 

 summer season. In this last sort of soil, with proper management, in the drill method, 

 it has been found to rise to the height of a foot and a half in about thirty or forty days, 

 affording five full cuttings in the summer. But in the broad-cast crops, in the opinion 

 of some, there are seldom so many cuttings afforded in the season, three or four being 

 more common, as the growth is supposed to be less rapid than by either of the other 

 modes. 



5037. The application of lucern is also the same as of clover. The principal and most ad- 

 vantageous practice, in the application of lucern, is that of soiling horses, neat cattle and 

 hogs ; but as a dry fodder, it is also capable of affording much assistance, and as an early 

 food for ewes and lambs, may be of great value in particular cases. All agree in extolling 

 it as food for cows, whether in a green or dried state. It is said to be much superior to 

 clover, both in increasing the milk and butter, and improving its flavor. In its use in a 

 green state, care is necessary, not to give the animals too much at a time, especially when 

 it is moist, as they may be hoven or blown with it, in the same way as with clover, and 

 other green food of luxuriant growth. 



5038. The produce of lucern, cut three times in a season, has been stated at from three 

 to five and even eight tons per acre. In soiling, one acre is sufficient for three or four 

 cows during the soiling season, and a quarter of an acre, if the soil be good for all sorts 

 of large stock, for the same period, or half an acre on a moderate soil. Say, however, 

 that the produce is equal in bulk and value to a full crop of red clover, then, if continued 

 yearly for nine or ten years (its ordinary duration in a productive state), at an annual ex- 

 pense of harrowing and rolling, and a triennial expense of top-dressing, it will be of suffi- 

 cient value to induce farmers, who have suitable soils and climates, to lay down a few 

 acres under this crop near their home-stalls. 



5039. The nutritive product of lucern, according to Sir H. Davy, is 2^ per cent., 

 and is to that of the clovers and saintfoin as 23 to 39. This result does not very w ell 

 agree with the superior nutritive powers attributed to lucern. 



5040. To save seed, the lucern may be treated precisely as the red clover, and it is 

 much easier threshed, the grains being contained in small pods, which easily separate under 

 the flail, or a threshing machine, or clover mill. 



5041. The diseases of lucern appear to be the same as those of clover. In Kent, 

 blight and the slug are its greatest enemies. 



