LUCERNE GROWING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4716, 25 June 1924, Page 2

LUCERNE GROWING.

USE OF LIME NECESSARY. A DECIDING FACTOR IN SUCCESS. The cultivation of lucerne has been the subject of discussion for many years. It would almost appear that the last word had been written upon it, but not one of the advocates of this valuable plant appears to have stressed the point that lime is the actual determining factor of success or failure. That is, lime will assure the success of lucerne on any- soil that is reasonably suitable to plant growth. Plants to flourish must have a soil that is well drained, and the water level must be at least reasonably constant.

In countries where lucerne is the recognised reliance of the live stock of the farm it will be realised that the land that is the more naturally adapted to this plant is the one that is the earlier in use for that purpose. Then, it follows that those who own land, of which the physical and chemical conditions are not so favoured, are anxious to avail themselves of this plant, so desirable in the live stock industry. It i.s more than desirable. It is a necessity where the best use is to be made of the land, and especially is this the condition where fodder is conserved in the form of hay or silage. We know that great progress in growing lucerne has been made. The secret is learned of its easy cultivation and of its assured success in soils once thought to be unsuited to it, and we have to accept the fact that in New Zealand there are great suoeesses and as great failures with lucerne. We may consider the wonderful success that lucerne has proved itself in Marlborough. There it grows almost ass a weed. It thrives with the least encouragement. It persists, and it is immensely' profitable. It is a natural sequence that with that example it mar be urged, with reasonable soil conditions, that lucerne will grow wherever it is sown, inoculated, and fairly cultivated. Then we have made experiments with the plant in many other parts of the Dominion to meet with disastrous failure, and we wonder why. These trials have often extended to quite extensive acreages. Much expense has been incurred to drain, fertilise, and inoculate; even then the plant failed to thrive. This has discouraged very seriously the extended cultivation of lucerne. The question may well be asked : Why is this ? The answer appears to be that the soils on which lucerne flourishes are naturally alkaline. The hills of Marlborough arc largely of limestone. The plains are watered and built up to a great extent by rivers that flow through country of that formation. It will lie said : Have we not been always taught that lucerne needs lime ? That is true, but we have failed to make that point impressive. We say lucerne requires lime, but we have never said that lime is as vital to lucerne as air to breathe is to all animal life. We die without air. Lucerne dies without lime. The first inquiry of those who fail with lucerne, but who persist, is very rightly how much lime should be used ? The answer that is easy to make is, whatever the soil needs. This is academic. The real answer is, as much as and more than lucerne can use. That is practical. The plain fact is that lucerne loves lime, feeds on lime, eats and drinks lime, wants lime first and last. There cannot be too much lime in the soil, and given all the excess of lime lucerne will thrive to its best. Tn the United States of America, where lucerne is the actual pivot, the mainstay of the live stock industry, the instance is quoted of a farm, well cultivated, well drained, and apparently well suited to lucerne, but it would not thrive. This was entirely altered after the application of six tons of ground carbonate of lime. ?.t is not suggested that this quantity should be used on many acres, but it would not be a costly test to use a ton and a half, by way of trial, on a measured quarter of an acre. The trial is worth making, and if ground limestone could but be available, as it should be, at from 10s to 12s a ton, the quantity may not be unreasonable in farm practice. There is a further advantage of the liberal use of lime. Lucerne so treated grows strongly. It is sp vigorous that ii overcomes almost all weeds. It is known to have obliterated Canadian thistle in many parts of Marlborough, where it is a serious pest except in the lucerne field, where it is outgrown and destroyed. Lucerne thrives or fails >n accordance with the proportion of lime in the soil. It is quite possible to have fair crops of lucerne for a short time from land that is deficient in lime, but a vigorous growth to extend over a term of years is determined by the available reserve of lime. Lucerne is at home only in a natural lime-con-taining soil, or on one that has acquired some of the characteristics of such a soil by the liberal use of lime.