LUCERNE IX THi: TRANSVAAL. 43 



causes of failure with this crop. I have already shown that with 

 careful treatment the life of a stand of lucerne may be anywhere 

 from 25 to 100 years. It is evident, therefore, that such a crop is 

 well worth a little extra care. When we consider that it takes 

 three years to reach full maturity, and that a good stand will yield 

 ten tons of hay per acre per annum, worth here at least 4 per ton, 

 a little care and attention which will save the necessity for plough- 

 ing up and replanting, with the corresponding loss of crop, is well 

 worth the little extra cost. J 



Our most successful growers use some of the many forms of 

 cultivator, which can be run down the rows as soon as the soil is 

 dry enough after each irrigation. A harrow is then run across the 

 field at right angles. This loosens the surface soil and checks 

 evaporation, at the same time that it kills the seedling weeds which. 

 have been started by the irrigation. Surprising though it may 

 seem, I find that the yield of crop is greatly increased by a single 

 cultivation. Owing to the large amount of farm work to be done' 

 during the summer, it is not always possible to use the cultivator 

 'after every cutting ; but I find that three or even two cultivations 

 will sometimes suffice, if a harrow is used after each of the other 

 cuttings. 



One great advantage of drill over broadcast sowing is the 

 greater ease and less cost required to keep the crop clean of 

 weeds. Our 4^-year stand is as clean to-day as when it was first 

 put in, and with no more care or expenditure than could be 

 applied on any farm. 



It is important that we should clearly understand that lucerne 

 is an expensive crop to lay down and to keep in condition, that it 

 will not give the best returns without care and attention, and that 

 it does not pay to neglect the crop. 



YIELD. 



The great variations in our seasons, the extremes of heat and 

 cold, moisture and drought, produce great fluctuations in yield in 

 a crop like lucerne. A normal crop under ample irrigation should 

 give six to eight cuttings per annum, yielding eight to ten tons of 

 hay. I have known of heavier returns. 



After the war, the first growers of lucerne made grod money 

 by selling green lucerne in the bundle, on the markets of Johan- 

 nesburg and Pretoria. With the rapid increase in production and 

 the decrease in demand owing to the reduction of the military 

 forces the price quickly fell. Only those with exceptionally good 

 facilities, and close io the market, now find this method of market- 

 ing profitable. 



A good deal of money is still being made by the sale of baled 

 lucerne hay, from 4 10s. to 7 10s. per ton (colonial) being 

 realised. But here again the demand is falling while the supply 

 is increasing, and soon we may expect that only those who are par- 



