• r '"»t) HIE FARMERS* HANDBOOK. 



Tick or horse beans have found their best development so far as a green- 

 manuring crop in orchards on the Mhirrumbidgee Irrigation Area. They 

 are not a palatable fodder, though they derive their name from the popu- 

 larity of the seed for horse feed. 



Those legumes that arc grown for the vegetable market — beans and peas 

 are dealt with in the vegetable section of this Handbook (page 679). 



LUCERNE. 



Lucerne is now the chief leguminous crop in New South Wales, and its 

 fodder value is becoming more and more widely recognised. Its most extensive 

 cultivation in earlier years was in the Hunter district, and at Tamworth; 

 but it has shown itself capable of adapting itself to a variety of soils and 

 climates, provided its peculiar sensibilities are studied carefully, and it is 

 now spreading over a much wider area of the State. 



Suitable Soils. 



It is seldom safe for a farmer to say that lucerne will not grow profitably 

 on his land before he has tried it. It thrives on an extraordinary variety 

 of soils, though maximum results cannot be expected from land which offers 

 violence to the essential qualities of the plant. It is sensitive in certain 

 respects, and disregard of its special susceptibilities will result in reduced 

 yields, but payable results may be expected from almost any land, except 

 that which is badly drained, or is very sandy. The plant roots very deeply, 

 and it is obvious that a deep, permeable subsoil contributes to maximum 

 results. Still, this is not an absolute essential to successful growth, as is 

 proved by the results obtained on soil that at one time would have been 

 considered quite unsuitable. 



The heaviest yields are obtained on the very best alluvial soils found on 

 river banks, particularly deep, free soils well supplied with lime and potash, 

 and with free water 15 to 30 feet below the surface. A farmer possessing 

 such ground will find it hard to discover a more profitable use for it than 

 to grow lucerne. The suitability of lucerne to such a soil is the secret of 

 success on the Hunter River flats, where comfortable livings are made on 

 BQ-a6re holdings, and where first-class lucerne land brings from £70 to £100 

 per acre. 



Drainage is absolutely essential to success, and if the soil is not naturally 

 drained to a depth of at least several feet, action must be taken to bring 

 about this condition before lucerne-growing is attempted. Where badly 

 drained patches occur in the soil, the lucerne soon dies out absolutely, and 

 its place is taken by couch grass and weeds of other kinds. Flood-waters 

 do not affect it, because as a rule they soon run off, but to cover a lucerne 

 field with water for two or three days is a sure means of eradicating it 

 altogether. 



Lucerne will not grow in sour soil. Lime is extremely beneficial, if not 

 absolutely necessary, probably on account of its sweetening effect on the soil 

 more than its mechanical effect. 



