210 



Lucerne. 



Vol. VI. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Lucerne* 



Mr. Editor, — At length we have mention 

 made in the " American Farmer," of Mr. 

 Beltzhoover's " patch of Lucerne, the third of 

 an acre," on his farm near the city of Balti- 

 more. This, I presume, is the crop which we 

 were given to understand some two years 

 ago, was about to be cultivated, with the view 

 to ascertain the value of its pretensions in 

 this country — a small affair, truly ! parti- 

 cularly after so much has been said, and 

 80 many estimates made of its enormous 

 yield in other countries, where it has been 

 known for ages. Nevertheless, it is a " fact" 

 that has been fabricated amongst us, and 

 is deserving the honourable mention that 

 has been made of it in the leading journal 

 above-mentioned, the editor of which says: 



" We have paid a flying visit to Mr. Beltz- 

 hoover's farm, where we have had the plea- 

 sure of seeing a patch of about a third of an 

 acre (of Lucerne) and was pleased to learn 

 that it had fully realized the highest expecta- 

 tions which that gentleman had formed of its 

 value as a soiling grass; and as a proof, we 

 were pointed to an additional patch which 

 had been sown this fall, the which, if we 

 were not opposed to croaking, we would say 

 we fear its setting was delayed too late. We 

 learned that the first patch to which we have 

 alluded above, afforded five or six cuttings 

 the present spring, summer and fall, yielding 

 well at each cutting. The advantages of an 

 acre or two of this grass upon a farm, to be 

 used as green meat for the working horses 

 and milch cows, we think cannot be too highly 

 appreciated, and we would again urge upon 

 our brethren to make the necessary arrange- 

 ments this winter, to set a small quantity of 

 ground next spring with it." 



Now, I cannot but look upon this account, 

 although it is the result of only a flying visit, as 

 somewhat singular and very curious: here is 

 a crop that has fully realized the highest ex- 

 pectations of its owner, still circumscribed to 

 two patches, perhaps less than the one-half of 

 an acre, although it is admitted, that one of 

 the patches yielded five or si.x cuttings for 

 soiling during the past summer; the worthy 

 editor himself, considering that an acre or two 

 of this grass upon a farm would be an abun- 

 dant supply for the work-horses and milch- 

 cows, and, urging his brethren to set a small 

 quantity of ground with it in the spring. With 

 the satisfactory proof of such perfect success 

 before his eyes, would it be more than reason- 

 able to expect to hear him advocate its cul- 

 tivation to the extent of twenty or thirty 

 acres, rather than to one or two; and instead 

 of recommending a small quantity of ground 

 to be appropriated to its growth the next 



spring, can too much be said or done for it? I 

 confess there is something here that I cannot 

 understand, and I would respectfully ask for 

 further information. I had hoped that so 

 soon as it had been ascertained that the soil 

 and climate of any part of our country were 

 congenial to the growth of this invaluable 

 crop, that its cultivation would have been 

 entered upon with the greatest avidity, for, 

 assuredly, no crop can at all compare with it 

 for quantity or quality, whether as green food 

 for soiling or as hay, of the most nutritious and 

 fattening properties. It is a grand mistake 

 to suppose that a rich soil is necessary for its 

 growth or well-being ; it is rather otherwise, 

 the only sine qua non being a very dry sub- 

 soil and light surface; upon such a soil the 

 necessary means of support can be given by 

 temporary top-dressings of well composted 

 manure, the chief regard being, that it con- 

 tain no seeds of weeds. And if it should be 

 found that marl is congenial to its growth, 

 there are situations in this country where the 

 land might be rendered of four-fold value by 

 the culture of Lucerne. It is to be remarked, 

 that hogs pastured upon this grass require no 

 other food, being often slaughtered in fine 

 condition while feeding on that alone. The 

 culture by drilling is not to be recommended ; 

 sow the seed thickly on a clean and well pul- 

 verized soil, either in the spring, the summer, 

 or the autumn, without any other crop; the 

 plants will appear in a few days, and if they 

 are not choked with weeds, will soon over- 

 spread the land, an early and frequent cut- 

 ting giving them a fresh start over the weeds, 

 and a slight harrowing after every cutting 

 will enable them to keep it. Truly, it is 

 strange that such an invaluable crop is still 

 confined to patches "the third of an acre." 

 Joshua Loader. 



" If beginning harvest a fortnight earlier 

 enables a man to save a crop from spoiling 

 once in a lifetime — if the improved quality 

 of his straw as fodder for his stock allows him 

 to plough out an acre more, or to pasture an- 

 other acre of clover with feeding or fatting 

 stock, instead of mowing it for his lean stock, 

 every grain saved, every extra bushel of 

 corn produced, and every extra head of stock 

 fed, is a public benefit, as well as to himself, 

 and is so much added to the gross produce 

 and wealth of the country; these being, in 

 fact, an increased return, without any in- 

 creased outlay." 



How much better would it have been for 

 the country, if the time, money and attention 

 which have been spent on fruitless political 

 subjects, had been devoted to improvements 

 in agriculture ! 



