144 CHAPTER IX 



six inches every one hundred yards. The beds, where neces- 

 sary, should be terraced, and so far as possible should follow 

 the contour of the land. Having regard to the slope, texture 

 of the soil and volume of water available, to facilitate mowing, 

 they should be as wide as possible. Usually they are made 

 twenty to forty feet in width. The ground must be firm and, 

 where possible, moist enough to ensure a fair start before the 

 crop receives its first irrigation. To ensure a stand, in some 

 cases irrigation must be resorted to, but to promote deep root 

 grow^th the fields should be watered as little as possible during 

 the early stages. 



Planting. — The best time to sow is in the autumn, before 

 the first frosts, when the most active weed growth is over, 

 and when the soil is kept moist by the late rains. If sown 

 during March, April, or May, the risk of having the young 

 crop destroyed by caterpillars is not so great as in spring, as 

 the crop is well started before winter, and a number of summer 

 weeds are killed by the first frosts. 



Planting in spring is sometimes successfully practised on 

 land free from w^eeds. 



This crop is commonly sown broadcast, at the rate of 15 

 to 20 pounds per acre ; thicker seeding is recommended if the 

 land is weedy. The seed is lightly covered with very light 

 harrows, weeders, or a chain harrow. As the seed must not 

 be placed deeper than an inch below the surface, those growers 

 not in possession of any of these implements often resort to 

 covering the seed by dragging branches across the field, or sow 

 it on top of a moving harrow, or may even drive a flock of 

 sheep to and fro to trample the seed into the soil. 



The use of a seeder is advisable, as a more even stand is 

 secured and less seed is required, 10 to 15 pounds being used 

 when a drill is employed. 



Lucerne is sometimes sown with oats, barley, or field 

 peas, as a nurse crop. This, while a successful practice in 

 more humid countries, is not generally recommended in South 

 Africa, as the seedlings suffer from competition with the more 

 rapid-growing plants of the nurse-crop. 



Seeds. — As lucerne is grown only on expensive land, and 

 as preparation of the soil and the seed is costly, great care 

 should be taken in the choice of seed. The following score- 

 card may be used in judging the merits of seed : — 



