116 PRACTICAL NOTES ON GRASSES AND GRASS GROWING. 
Lucerne sends down a large tap-root into the sub-soil as 
quickly as it can, and it does not obtain maturity until. the 
fourth year, when it is wont to: shed the bark of its root, thus 
enriching the soil and creating a vacuum around the root 
which is highly beneficial. This process continues year by 
year, but does not commence until it is four years old. 
Lucerne is chiefly used for soiling or ensilage, as it is some- 
what difficult to make into hay, because the leaf,, its most 
valuable portion, is wont to drop off as soon as the hay 
becomes dry, whilst it cannot be gathered or cocked when any 
wet weather or dew prevails, without risk of moulding. 
It is almost impossible to make good hay from lucerne 
should a showery period intervene ; at. other times the produce 
must be gathered into small locks as soon as cut which the sun 
easily penetrates, and it must be carted early. 
If grown for crops, three to four, according to: the season, 
may be depended upon; but three crops will generally foot up 
to as much in weight as four. It is a plant which appears to 
grow at all times, no matter how hot and dry the weather may 
be, but during a wet season it lies comparatively dormant ; 
thus a plentiful supply of lucerne can be relied upon when 
other crops fail, of which we have had ample proof during the 
past three years. 
The duration of lucerne is another controversial point. We 
put it down at twelve years, but when properly.looked after it 
seems to stand indefinitely, although twitch, if prevalent, will 
crowd it out in four years. 
A spray of lucerne on a permanent’ pasture: will. last.a long: 
time, and in our opinion is a welcome addition. 
In appearance the seed resembles trefoil, and is of a 
yellowish green colour, but it is unlike trefoil in shape, being 
larger. The quantity of germinating seeds to the. pound is 
about 225,000, or one-third less than trefoil, whilst in weight it 
is less by 21 lb. per imperial bushel. 
