Lucerne as a Fodder Crop. 



219 



protein in the experiments at the Colorado station did not 

 differ very greatly, although the protein was somewhat higher 

 in the first cutting. The farmer who prefers the second or 

 even the third crop for certain feeding is reminded that the 

 amount of protein present is not the only measure of good 

 hay. Not only is the yield said to be greater in the first 

 cutting, but the quantity of protein is, it appears, also 

 greater, and the hay cut just at the beginning of bloom is 

 richer in this constituent than that cut later. From the 

 beginning of bloom to half bloom the amount of protein 

 seems to be nearly stationary, and the crop is also probably 

 at its maximum. If the plant continues to store up 

 organic matter after this period is passed, it is believed that 

 the losses by the dropping of leaves due to the maturing of 

 the plant and the action of the fungus common on the 

 alfalfa probably more than equal the gain. The crude fibre 

 of the whole plant gradually increases as the plant matures. 



From a comparison of the composition of the hay made 

 from lucerne with that made from clover, it appears that 

 100 lbs. of lucerne hay contains 54*5 lbs. of digestible 

 food with over 1 1 lbs. of protein, while 100 lbs» 

 of clover hay contains 47*5 lbs. of digestible food, of 

 which nearly 7 lbs. is protein. 



The amount of fertilising materials removed from the soil 

 in a ton of lucerne hay is estimated at 44 lbs. of nitrogen,, 

 8 27 lbs. of phosphoric acid, and 50*95 lbs. of potash; 

 about 40 lbs. of lime are also removed. It is to be 

 remembered that lucerne belongs to that class of plants which 

 are able to derive their nitrogen largely from the atmosphere. 

 Tubercles containing bacteria appear on the roots in three 

 forms — -as warty excrescences near the neck, and as single 

 and colonised nodules on the roots. The excrescences only 

 appear at shallow depths, the colonies at from 3ft. to 5ft. 

 and the single nodules at all depths. These nodules were 

 found to differ greatly in abundance on roots of plants 

 in different localities, though the plants appeared of equal 

 vigour and the proteids in the hay varied little. Compared 

 with vetches and red clover, lucerne is poorly supplied with 

 nodules, but the groups are much larger, frequently being 



