LUCERNE OR PURPLE MEDICK 



431 



In the second and third years a stout rootstock is formed from 

 which a large number of stems are sent up and the plants yield 

 a heavy crop of nutritious fodder. 



Under some circumstances a lucerne ley will last a very long 



Fig. 133. — Four successive stages of development of Lucerne Seedling {Mcdicago satwa 

 L.). — The first foliage-leaf (rf) is simple, the second and all others trifoliate, as at /. 

 a. Hypocotyl ; b root j c cotyledons ; d first foliage-leaf; e plumule ; /"second foliage-leaf; 

 ^ first internode of epicotyl. In 4 note the buds in the axils of the cotyledons. 



time but it usually becomes overrun with weeds in six or seven 

 years, after which time it is ploughed up. 



Seed is sown from April to the end of June at the rate of 30 

 lbs. per acre in drills 6 or 8 inches apart to allow of the use of 

 horse and hand hoes. 



