142 THE LUCEENE CROP. 



quantities and at shorter intervals than on the stronger class 

 of soils ; and of course a soil in low condition requires more 

 assistance in the shape of manure than one that has been 

 kept up in a state of high fertility. In any case it is im- 

 portant that the land intended for lucerne should be in 

 good heart as well as in a fine tillage condition, as much 

 of the subsequent productiveness of the crop depends upon 

 the earlier stages of its growth. If these be favourable, 

 the plant gets well rooted in the soil before the winter sets 

 in, and in the following spring throws up stout vigorous 

 stems and leaves, which cover up the spaces between the 

 rows, keep down the annual weeds, and furnish a supply 

 of green food ready for use at a time when it is so valu- 

 able for all kinds of stock. If the tillage preparation of 

 the soil, however, has not been duly attended to, and if its 

 general condition has been neglected, the plant will be thin 

 and stunted in its growth : the first winter will tell its tale 

 upon the more weak and sickly plants, while those that 

 survive will have to struggle on, during the rest of their 

 period as a crop, with the natural denizens of the soil, which 

 are sure to take full toll out of any manures that may from 

 time to time be applied, and in the course of a few years 

 to replace them in the field. 



For all the purposes of the crop no manure is so 

 well adapted as good favmyard dung, which may be 

 applied either in a rotted or in a green or fresh state, 

 and either at the time of the autumn or of the spring 

 preparation of the land remembering always to make 

 a due allowance for the proportions necessary when 

 applied in these two different conditions, and also that 

 dung, in its green state, contains a less proportion of 

 fertilizing matter immediately available to the crop than 

 when it has been well rotted, and consequently needs some 

 addition in the shape of a readily soluble artificial manure. 

 For this purpose nothing is better than Peruvian guano, 



