76 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 



is essentially a plant for dry climates and dry soils. Cold, dry 

 air has no iU effect upon it ; but moisture, with or without heat, 

 is directly prejudicial. Its duration depends more upon the 

 subsoil than upon the surface ; indeed, the nature of the surface 

 is of small moment so long as the subsoil is calcareous. In some 

 parts of the Continent Lucerne remains as good a crop twenty- 

 five years after sowing as in the third year of its existence, but 

 five years is the usual term, and seven years may be considered 

 the fair limit of its vigorous life even on suitable land. It is in- 

 teresting to note the diverse surface soils on which Lucerne 

 thrives, but investigation will always prove that whatever the 

 nature of the surface may be there is a substantial agreement in 

 the subsoils where this plant flourishes. The distance to which 

 the tap-roots penetrate is almost incredible. In the first season 

 they will often go down two feet or more. I have been told of 

 one instance where a Lucerne root was traced to a depth of six- 

 teen feet. 



In many localities Lucerne cannot be cultivated successfully, 

 and it will only be waging a fruitless war against Nature to 

 attempt to grow it on impervious clay, or on any cold adhesive 

 land. Warm and calcareous soils are highly favourable to its 

 growth, and a sheltered field, sloping to the south, will suit it to 

 perfection, provided always that lime can be reached, for this it 

 must have. Sometimes there is a strong desire to grow Lucerne 

 on soil deficient in lime. To meet the requirements of the plant 

 a heavy marhng is applied six months before sowing ; but the 

 process is costly, and at best the effects are only temporary, be- 

 cause there is no possibihty of burying the marl deep enough to 

 feed the roots after they have pierced down into the subsoil. The 

 richer the soil the earlier will Lucerne come to full development, 

 and land should be chosen in which the roots will be able to 

 strike down without undue resistance. 



The principal point in the culture of Lucerne is to secure 

 a thoroughly clean seed-bed. Weeds soon ruin the plant, and 

 therefore farm-yard or stable manure, although good in itself, is 



