LUCERNE—KING OF FODDER CROPS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 598, 30 August 1913, Page 2

LUCERNE—KING OF FODDER CROPS.

Be he in the very Lor an 5 city or I more favoured districts, each and every farmer should strive to mak'i provision for getting in a small lucerne ■ patch. _ It wi:l 0.. tsn be tor.r.d i:n aiming us a source of green reed pickings ior t::c working teams da);in iC seasons wrier, other feed T .s dry. A night in the short lucerne stubbie would be greatly reiished by such team 3 after their day's labour duri.g the ploughing or sowing season. Don't say that it won't grow in your district, or that there ia not enough moisture; try it; and if about to do so in the hot and dry districts, plant now. Spring is, we maintain, the safest and surest season to sow down lucerne in any districts but thoie that suffer through excessively wet winters. Ever aim at thoroughness, and as the lucerne ia supposed to last a few years, be sure, if your soil is over-iaying a stiff subsoil, to not only break this subsoil but lime it, not necessarily heavy—up to, say, scwt per acre on the very stiff country, down to as low as half that quantity (2Jcwt.) on medium stiff subffoils. One can sow immediately after the liming if anxious to get the crop in, although we advise a little time for the mellowing up of the soil somewhat, thus providing a more congenial one for a permanent root system; but where the land is fairly clean and in good working condition one can safe ly plant now, and if permanency is desired the subsoil must be broken to a depth of several inches, with a little lime dressing.