KING ISLAND MELILOT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1504, 29 July 1912, Page 8

KING ISLAND MELILOT.

SUCCESS ON SANDY SOILS. Sbnio experiments carried out in Victoria on sandy soils have proved the value of King Island uielilo't on this class of land, ami owners of sand country on the West Coast and elsewhere will read the Australian experience ,with interest. Reporting on the experiments an Australian writer says: "Coastal sand dunes, covered with titree scrub, have been partially cleared and sown down with'the melilot, and as a.result lands that had had absolutely no value whatever for agricultural purposes were converted into rich dairying and fattening areas. This fodder has a , very high nutritive value, higher than lucerne, ami imparts a very attractive and fragrant odour to hay, which makes it all the more palatablo to stock. It is a heavy cropper and very hardy, and its self-seeding habit renders it of peculiar value. The seed contains a good percentage of oily material, and is found useful, i mixed with food, to horses suffering from worm troubles. Apparently, the melilot will not give, satisfactory results inland, although it may grow well, but the odour which it gives off would taint both the flesh and milk of animals fed on it, although theso features are not noticed in , the light, sandy soil of coastal country. ' ' King Island farmers consider that in •'■ ■coastal .scrub country it should, b'o sown after a'lirtVas the seed is covered with a waxy serration,' which has to bo removed ■'before germination can take place, but where, it is desired to sow the -seed on already cleared, land it is advisable to • throw'boili.ng water ovVr it. By experi- ., ment it has'been .found that seed sown in an [untreated condition in spring has ; . not germinated till the following sum- .;• iner." ,