British Dairy Farming. 
141 
Plots had been planted during four years, and in only one 
year has the sorghum reached maturity. I have noticed in 
Italv, as in France, that where sorghum is grown for the seed, 
it is planted, as in America, in hills or bunches ; but in neither 
case does the yield of forage approach that which can be 
obtained in the manner described above. 
Lucerne. 
The extraordinary results which I have seen obtained by 
means of lucerne in several districts of France, more especially 
where dairy cattle are fed, was an inducement to make a trial 
of it as a milk-producing food. I have frequently noticed, more 
particularly in the summer of 1885, that, when almost every 
other species of herbage was dried up, lucerne afforded a heavy, 
succulent and valuable crop, and farmers might be instanced 
who were enabled to carry their stock along solely by its aid. 
An acre of useful loam was laid out, well cleansed and brought 
to a fine tilth, and upon this 10 lbs. of sound seed were drilled 
on the 13th of April. This sowing was followed by one of 
cocksfoot-grass and trefoil. The plant was up in a very short time, 
but was irregular and patchy. In the first week in May, there- 
fore, a few more lbs. of seed were broadcasted by means of a hand 
drill, from which the coulters had been removed. It was dis- 
tinctlv noticeable that the seeds which had not been covered, 
but which had sprouted, had been killed by the sun, and I have 
always found it dangerous to sow lucerne and leave it improperly 
covered. It is quite as risky to sow early, on account of the frosts, 
as late, on account of the sun. It may also be observed that in 
drilling, the seed must not be buried, or it will be lost. One 
portion of the crop was sown with oats, and one without. There 
was no perceptible difference in the lucerne-crop ; but the por- 
tion sown with grain became much more foul, and so remained. 
In some instances, upon a rich and suitable soil, lucerne yields 
a cut in the first year ; but this is a risky practice, and is felt by 
the plant if the winter is severe. This plot was manured with 
20 loads of good dung, but the first cut was scarcelv worth 
taking. On the 21st of May in the second year a very heavy 
cut was made, and a second cut on the 2nd of August. Both 
were extremely valuable ; and it was noticed that the lucerne rose 
again, and was ready long before the grasses growing side by side 
with it. In a neighbouring field, since ploughed up but which 
was then a meadow, there were about 200 very strong lucerne- 
plants scattered here and there, which a month after hay-time 
each year had risen to the height of 18 inches. Those plants 
suggested the appropriate nature of the soil (for the tilth is deep) 
