Book VI. LUCERN. 871 



old seed docs not come up freely. The same depth of covering as for clover will 

 answer. 



5585. Litcern 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 reason and others 

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

 up blanks. 



5586. The after-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 

 require. 



5587. When 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 weight 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. 



5588. The top-dressings 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. 



5589. The taking of lucern by mowing for soiling, or hay, or by tethering, hurdling, 

 or pasturing, may be considered 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 favourable 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 whole 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. 



5590. The application of lucern is also the same as that of clover. The principal and 

 most advantageous practice 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 flavour. 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. 



5591. 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, or half an 

 acre on a moderate soil, for all sorts of large stock, for the same period. 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 

 expense of harrowing and rolling, - and a triennial expense of top-dressing, it will he of 

 sufficient value to induce fanners, who have suitable soils and climates, to lay down a few- 

 acres under this crop near their homestalls. 



5592. 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 well agree 

 with the superior nutritive powers attributed to lucern. 



5593. To save seed, the lucern may be treated precisely as the red clover, and it is 

 much more easily threshed, the grains being contained in small pods, which easily sepa- 

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



5594. The diseases of lucern appear to be the same as those of clover. In Kent, blight 

 and the slug are its greatest enemies. 



