OTHER FORAGE PLANTS— LUCERN. 115 



but Dr. Stebler does not approve of that, as the clover 

 hinders the development of the Lucern, and after two 

 or three years — when the clover disappears — a large 

 number of blank spaces are left in the field. In good 

 land it comes to its fuU development in the second 

 year. It commences to make growth at end of AprU, 

 and gives good cuttings before, during, and after the 

 Eed Clover. At the end of from five to seven years 

 the yield begins to diminish, and it then becomes 

 advisable to break up the plantation at any time from 

 thenceforward — although in some favourable situations 

 it may be found growing on same soil from ten to 

 twenty years, and even longer. As its roots go very 

 deep, it can stand drought better than any other 

 of the leguminous plants, but it is not suitable for 

 climates of excessive humidity. Owing to its deep- 

 rooting habit, it is the nature of the subsoil that has 

 the most importance for this plant. It wants a subsoil 

 that its roots can permeate. Those of a calcareous or 

 marly nature suit it best, but clay land with a compact 

 subsoil does not suit it at all ; neither does land that 

 contains an excess of moisture. The deeper the subsoil 

 the better does Lucern succeed. 



Manuring. — It is not recommended to dress the land 

 with farm-yard manure just before sowing Lucern, as 

 this favours the growth of weeds, which become very 

 injurious to the young plants. If the latter are slow 

 in developing, it will be found advantageous to apply a 

 dressing of nitrate of soda. The ash of Lucern contains 

 large proportions of potash, lime, and magnesia. 



The Seed of commerce is found sometimes to contain 

 grains of Dodder. In view of the great injury this vUe 

 parasite causes the crops of Lucern (and of clover), it 



