NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



185 



pervious. A fair proportion of sand, clay and vegetable mould 

 will be found a suitable mixture for the growth of lucerne. 

 The climate of North Carolina is well adapted to its cultiva- 

 tion. It would undoubtedly grow well and vigorously on 

 many of the pocosin soils, whose composition is similar to that 

 of Hyde county, though probably a better drainage may be 

 required. Still, a soil so well adapted to Indian corn may be 

 expected to grow lucerne equally well. It sends down along 

 tap root, provided with many fibrous off-shoots, which imbibe 

 nutriment from a wide area. Hence its vigor, when well 

 located, and the great amount of food it furnishes. Lucerne 

 continues to produce good crops from 5 to 10 years in suc- 

 cession. Hence its value ; when once thoroughly rooted or 

 set, it is as permanent as the best pasture lands. It would 

 seem, if we reason from the effects of the cultivation of other 

 plants, that after 10 years cropping the soil would be perfect- 

 ly exhausted. This is not the case, for it is said to render the 

 soil richer. This is going too far. For though leguminous 

 plants derive a large portion of their solid matter from the 

 atmosphere, yet the inorganic matter comes from the soil, and 

 just as much of it as is removed from the field, just so much 

 also is the land impoverished. The reason of the anomaly 

 claimed for lucerne, is, that it penetrates much deeper than 

 other plants and takes its food from a much greater space. 



The best time for cutting lucerne is just before it blossoms. 

 If cut before this period it is too watery to dry and cure well; 

 if later or after blossoming it is too woody and contains less 

 nutriment. This is probably one of the best plants for soiling 

 cattle. When cut it sprouts vigorously again, and in a climate 

 like that of North Carolina, it seems to be the plant which 

 may be relied upon to stand the sun and drought, and at the 

 same time furnish a forage superior, if any thing, to the red 

 clover. The seed of lucerne are yellow, and if good, glossy 

 and heavy. The first year it should not be cut too close nor 

 a large amount of forage expected from it. Time should be 

 given for it to take deep root. The second year it begins to 

 pay and may be relied upon for several succeeding years. It 

 should be sown early in spring. 



