-10 LUCERNE CULTURE. 



are generally disappointing, it should be remembered that it is one 

 of the most difficult crops to establish. Success is being had in 

 the growing of lucerne in the parts of the United States where not 

 more than three years ago it was deemed impossible to make it 

 live; we may, therefore, yet attain success with dry-land lucerne in 

 South Africa. 



VARIETIES. 



The Transvaal Department of Agriculture has tested all the 

 principal varieties and strains of lucerne known. Of these the 

 best results have been obtained with Australian seed from the Tarn- 

 worth and Hunter River Districts, and with Oudtshoorn seed. The 

 Oudtshoorn seed sent to the Transvaal has so often been found to 

 contain quantities of dodder and other weed seeds that our farmers 

 naturally hesitate about purchasing it, even at a lower price than 

 that paid for imported seed. Australian seed has usually been 

 qu >ted at higher figures than any other. Almost equally good is 

 the Provence strain, grown in the South of France ; the Poitou seed, 

 from the North of France, has not given such good results, and is 

 probably, bstter suite:! to a more humid climate. 



The Turkestan and " Hardy " varieties have been tried repeat- 

 edly, but have not proved satisfactory in a single instance ; as a 

 rule the Turkestan starts spring growth later in the season than 

 any other sort, and has given a lighter yield per acre. 



Many persons suppose that the alfalfa of California, Argen- 

 tina and other Spanish-speaking countries is a different variety, 

 but this is not the case. 



DURATION OF STAND. 



One of the valuable characteristics of lucerne is the long life of 

 a well-grown, well-kept stand. In the States and in Provence its 

 usual duration is from 10 to 25 years. Professor Coburn reports a 

 field in New York State that has been mown successfully for over 

 60 years, and I have- heard of similar cases in Mexico and Cape 

 Colony. In France it has been known to flourish for more than a 

 century, and in Mexico it is stated that there ate fields which have 

 been continuously productive for over 200 ye.irs. But where care 

 is not taken to prevent or check the growth of Aveeds. the stand 

 rarely gives a profitable yield after 7 or 8 years. 



It is natural that such a deep-rooted and long-lived plant 

 should not come to maturity the first year. As a matter of fact it 

 is not till about the third year that the full crop is secured. 



SOWING. 



On irrigated lands lucerne may be sown either in drills or 

 broadcast. On dry lands it should only be planted in drills. 

 15 Ibs. will drill an acre, but broadcasting requires 25 Ibs. ; at Is. 



