226 



Cultivation of Lucerne. [July, 



roots to penetrate to a considerable depth. An excess of water, 

 however, is very unfavourable, and it is essential that the soil 

 should be fairly fertile and free from weeds. The latter con- 

 dition is important, as the young and tender plants are easily 

 crowded out when they first come up. The cultural directions 

 given for the States agree generally with those recommended for 

 this country in the article before referred to, and may be 

 summed up by saying that it is advisable to get the land in clean 

 condition for sowing by the growth of a fallow crop which should 

 be heavily manured and carefully cleaned. The seed is usually 

 sown in the spring, at the rate of 20 lb. per acre when sown 

 broadcast, or about 1 5 lb. if sown with a drill and well harrowed. 

 It is best sown alone, but it is customary in many localities of 

 America to sow it with grain, and if the conditions are well 

 suited to the growth of lucerne the stand may not be materially 

 injured. Barley is used for this purpose, and the sowing must 

 be comparatively light so as not to smother the lucerne. 



If the seed is drilled, the land can be kept clean by hand or 

 horse-hoeing, and one or two cuttings may be obtained in the 

 first season It is, however, said to be important not to cut it 

 too late in the autumn. It should have a good growth — at least 

 six inches high — before the advent of severe weather. 



Lucerne does not usually reach its maximum development 

 until the third or fourth season, but no treatment is necessary 

 after the first season except to cut the hay at the proper time. 

 In America it is regarded primarily as a hay crop, though it is 

 also used for pasturage and feeding green to stock. It should 

 be cut just as it is beginning to bloom. After the beginning of 

 the flowering period the hay deteriorates rapidly in nutritive 

 value. If the field is fairly uniform, the proper stage for cutting 

 is when about one-tenth of the plants have reached the flowering 

 period. The harvesting should take place with as little handling 

 as possible, in order to prevent shaking off the leaves, which con- 

 tain a large proportion of the nutriment. The fields are usually 

 used to some extent for pasturing, but this must be done with 

 caution, as cattle and sheep are liable to become " blown," and 

 they also cause injury to the field by treading the plants. For 

 grazing purposes better results may be obtained by combining 

 lucerne with grass and clover seeds. Pigs do well on lucerne, 



