U4 THE LUCERNi; 



Lucerne is sometimes raised in a seed-bed and trans- 

 planted into the field, a practice which has been recom- 

 mended by some of the earlier authors as producing in rich 

 deep soils even greater returns than by the ordinary method 

 of drilling. On such soils it is recommended to nip off Iho 

 main tap-root to about 8 or inches long, so as to induce 

 the formation of lateral roots that should ramify through 

 the upper layers of the soil. On the Continent this 

 practice is still followed in many places; it can, how- 

 ever, only be admitted where either the breadth to be 

 planted is very limited or manual labour very cheap; at 

 the same time a small patch of lucerne raised in the garden 

 is very useful to furnish plants for any blanks that may 

 occur in the field. 



In our present advanced system of farming, lucerne 

 is generally sown by itself as a distinct crop, so that 

 it may receive the tillage treatment so important in 

 its early growth. The old practice, however, was to treat 

 it in the same manner as clover, and to sow it down 

 with a straw crop, and thus get a return from the field 

 during the unproductive period of the lucerne crop. 1 

 On light dry soils this practice is probably less ob- 

 jectionable than on rich deep soils, as the growth of 

 the grain would shade the young plants from the action 

 of the sun, and at the same time preserve the surface in a 

 more moist condition. These advantages would, how- 

 ever, be sham I (Dually by the weeds, frprn which it is so 

 desirable to protect the young plant of lucerne. Where 

 this mode is practised the straw crop should be drilled 

 at wide distances say 12 inches and oats would 

 probably be better than barley, as being less liable 

 to be laid by the effects of weather. The seed, which 

 should be only very lightly covered, germinates very 

 quickly, the young plants appearing, under favour- 



1 Annals of Agri., vol. xxv. 



