344 



Cultivation of Lucerne. 



at least as a direct application before sowing, on account of the 

 weed se ds it may contain, although its effects in other ways are 

 very good. Three or four hundredweights of superphosphate 

 and one hundredweight of sulphate of potash form a suitable 

 dressing of artificial manures. On land where lime is deficient a 

 dressing of lime will prove beneficial. 



French seed is preferable to American, as plants grown from 

 the former usually prove hardier during a severe winter. 

 Experience has shown also that on land sown down for long 

 periods, French seed will give better crops than American. 

 The seed may be sown either alone or with a corn crop. In 

 this country the former method is generally adopted. The best 

 time for sowing, when the seed is sown without a corn crop, is 

 between the middle of April and July. From 20 to 28 lb. of seed 

 is sown per acre. The necessity for carefully cleaning the land 

 by means of horse or hand-hoeing during the first year of growth, 

 and subsequently in the spring of each year, makes it desirable 

 to drill the seed, allowing 6 to 8 inches between the rows, rather 

 than to sow it broadcast. 



A series of experiments carried out by University College, 

 Reading, in the years 1897 — 1900, proved, among other results, 

 that drilling was to be preferred to broadcasting. It was found 

 that 20 lb. of seed drilled gave as good results as 28 lb. of seed 

 broadcasted. In these, and also in later, trials, good results 

 were obtained, on the lighter class of soils, by including a few 

 pounds of lucerne seed with the grass and clover seeds sown for 

 a two or three years' ley. 



Lucerne should be cut just before the plant begins to flower. 

 It does not attain its full productiveness in its first year and will 

 yield probably not more than two cuttings, butinsubsequentyears 

 it may produce three orfour cuttings in favourable seasons. The 

 crop is not well adapted for grazing. It makes good hay if the 

 leaves can be preserved, but they are liable to be lost in the dry- 

 ing and handling of the crop. The most satisfactory method of 

 utilising the crop, however, is to give it to stock in a green state. 

 It yields a large bulk of produce which for this purpose is 

 invaluable. 



John O, Peet. 



