THE FARM.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 September 1914, Page 7

THE FARM.

; * I Hints on Growing Lucerne. I PREPARATION OF THE GROUND —CULTIVATION—IIANURESINOCULATION. WHAT AN AMERICAN SAYS. Mr. F. I). Coburn, secretary of the Kansas Board of Agriculture, in relating the story of "Kansas and and her Alfalfa" (lucerne) says : "The credulity of the stranger to Alfalfa, however fair-minded, is invariably taxed by a recitation of the truth about this wonderful plant; even the facts cut in two leave him in a perpetual state of doubt as to the veracity of the narrator, but thoroughly convincing are the experiences of those who are actually its growers. It is a perennial blessing to those who are so fortunate as to have an area devoted to its culture, yielding annually, whether the season be wet or dry, its several cuttings of hay, unsurpassed in tonnage and quality. It is indeed esteemed as a benefaction and doubly appreciated in those portions where it flourishes, but where the clovers do not prosper. Another feature, too, that the wide-awake farmer does not overlook, or minimise, is the improving effects of its roots, restoring and enriching, rather than, depleting the fertility of the soil on which they grow to the benefit of other succeeding crops. Its widespread introduction in the Sunflower State has been one of the most important factors in increasing the bank deposits, and the percapita wealth." As showing the growing appreciation in which the plant is held in Kansas, it may be mentioned that 16 years ago the area under crop was only :*4,354 acres, whereas it is now 800,000 acres. "As a hay," Mr. Coburn goes on to say, "there is none so good for all kinds of live stock as alfalfa, and for horses and hogs, it is a most invaluable food, either as a hay, a soiling crop, or as a pasture. As a meat maker, milkmaker, and money-maker it is equally prized, and as a renovator and improver of soils it has no competitor." Those are glowing ■vords, and the enthusiasm was the outcome of experience. What Mr. Clifton, who is in charge of the Agricultural Division in New Zealand, says, is that lucerne is the best crop that our farmers could possibly grow. CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT. The plant grows best in deep, friable, loamy soils containing lime, with porous well-drained deep subsoils. In this, lucerne establishes itself rapidly, penetrating the soil to great depths and eventually becomes one of the best droughtresisting plants we possess. In all situations, where there exists underground water, lucerne will send its roots down. Rich creek or river flats are best, provided there is no serious overflow. The long, vigorous roots of the plant go to great depths in search of plant food and moisture. Instances are on record in Australia where splendid lucerne paddocks sown forty years ago are still giving six to eight heavy cuts per annum. The roots are found in a healthy state 30 feet below the surface. This, of course, is where the plant is grown under ideal conditions. It is much shorter lived on poorer soils, and in dry districts. It can be grown more or less luxuriantly on a wide range of soils. It is simply surprising how vigorous the plant is, and how it survives the greatest hardships so long as the soils, however poor, are deep, and naturally or artificially well drained^ Lucerne is not influenced by altitude so long as the soils are deep, warm, and well drained, and moisture is available. On lands with stiff clay subsoils, and where water is likely to lodge around the roots for more than 48 hours, the plant does not flourish.