86 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 



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. 



But for its unsightliness Lucerne would be more frequently- 

 sown for permanent pastures than it is. The plant develops so 

 rapidly that it stands far above the surrounding herbage, and 

 imparts a broken and irregular appearance to the meadow. Still 

 it must be conceded that a certain proportion of Lucerne should 

 be included in every prescription of seeds intended for the 

 formation of a permanent pasture where the soil or subsoil is 

 calcareous. 



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 claj^, 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 possibility 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 

 dangerous from the seeds it may contain. Ash of all kinds is 

 beneficial, and, of course, artificial manure can be freely resorted 

 to. Three hundredweight of superphosphate per acre is a good 

 dressing. The best preparation is a crop of potatoes. As a rule, 

 April is the time for sowing, and the seed must not be deeply 

 buried. In England Lucerne is almost always sown alone, 



