HEAVY SEEDS. 115 
moisture is most detrimental to it. The Eastern Counties 
_being one of the driest parts of England, lucerne thrives well 
here, and secures all the moisture it requires by its deep 
searching roots and the absorption of dew by its leaves. 
During autumn the land must be thoroughly cleaned, carefully 
ploughing in everything in the winter. At the first signs of 
spring, cultivate the land, thereby exterminating twitch, and 
getting up a growth of summer weeds, which are harrowed 
down again once or twice, when the land will be found in as 
firm a state as an onion bed. In May, sow 20 pounds per 
acre broad cast, or 12 pounds if drilled, but the former is 
preferable. Horse-hoe the land (cutting it all) as may be 
required, followed by seed harrows, when the lucerne seed 
should be evenly and lightly buried with all the deep-rooted 
weeds freshly cut, and the surface weeds practically exhausted. 
In September a good cut should be obtained—we have even 
known two cuts during the first summer. 
Unless the grower is prepared to handle his land as we have 
suggested, he had better avoid the use of lucerne altogether. 
When sown with a corn crop it is crowded from its very 
‘infancy, and being planted in light laying soil, one or the other 
is sure to be a failure. 
When used with autumn sown wheat, lucerne has a little 
better chance. If sown early in April the grower can roll 
and harrow the land as much as he likes, which benefits the 
lucerne without injuring the wheat. 
Lucerne may be cut all through the summer, the oftener the 
better, but it must never be allowed to stand after its blossoms 
begin to show colour. It should not be fed off during the first 
two years by either sheep or horses, as they bite the grass too 
closely. In the middle of October it should be allowed to 
grow about four inches in height, when it should be covered 
with a coat of straw made (farm) manure—sometime during 
November or December. 
