HEAVY SEEDS. 113 
Tt is, without doubt, one of the most valuable crops that 
England produces, and when once established on suitable land 
it yields from 20 to 30 tons per acre of superior fodder, 
a ton of which is quite equal to 3 tons of vetches—a good 
comparison to give. 
We cannot understand why lucerne is not more generally 
known than it is, but apparently the English farmers have not 
studied it sufficiently, and before the grass has had time to 
become established they condemn it as a failure, complaining 
of the expense or other reasons, which a little patience and 
thoughtfulness on their part would soon overcome. 
To our mind “ Provence” would be more appropriate than its 
present name, because the department of Provence, in France, 
is, without doubt, its home; and the best seed we have always 
comes thence. 
The seed from America is nice looking, but the grains are 
small, and although on some land it thrives well, on others it 
will be found disappointing, particularly during the first year 
of its growth. Russia also sends us lucerne seed, which may 
be bought very cheaply, but we cannot recommend it. 
It is asserted that lucerne is entirely independent of the 
surface soil, and derives its sustenance from the sub-soil and the 
air. If this be so, the grower should take into account his 
sub-soil rather than his surface soil, which’ may be the secret 
of many failures; and when the surface soil is removed, which 
insome cases could be done with benefit to other parts of the 
land, the finest crops of lucerne should be obtained ; because 
there is no other plant we know of that deteriorates so much 
by overcrowding; therefore, by removing the surface soil, 
weeds and seeds lying dormant in. the land would be removed 
at the same time, and little else would grow upon the exposed 
sub-soil except Poa annua, which would be of little moment. 
We have not tried this experiment ourselves, and: until it has 
been practically demonstrated we cannot bring ourselves to 
H 
