148 



THE LUCERNE CROP. 



footstalks alone remaining; so that, instead of four 

 crops, only perhaps two inferior cuts can be obtained. 



This insect is very destructive on the Continent, and is 

 a worse enemy to the lucerne than the Apion apricans 

 is to the clover plant. 1 The lady-birds, especially the 

 G. impunctata, are said to be injurious to the lucerne 

 and clover crops, in their larva state, according to Ham- 

 merschmidt and Heeger, consuming the cellular tissue of 

 the leaves. These insects, however, even if they do a 

 little injury here sometimes, are known to be the farmer's 

 friends, as their chief and favourite food is the Aphides, 

 which so numerously and so prejudicially infest his crops. 



The chemistry of lucerne does not appear to have re- 

 ceived the same amount of attention in this country as 

 that of most of the preceding crops, owing, no doubt, to 

 the very limited character of its cultivation here. We 

 have, however, several analyses to refer to by continental 

 chemists Sprengel, Hertwig, Buch; and we have also 

 analyses of its composition by Mr. Way and by Dr. Ander- 

 son, which are quite sufficient to give us a correct esti- 

 mate of its feeding and manurial qualities. 



The organic composition of the fresh plant is given by 

 them as follows: 



The composition of the mineral matter or ash, which ap- 



1 Ann. Ent. Soc. de France, 1844, p. 271. 

 3 Dr. Anderson. 4 Mr. Way. 



" Mr. Way. 

 3 Dr.Voelcker. 



