LUCERNE

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 April 1915, Page 3

LUCERNE

ITS VALUE DURING A

DRY SEASON

W. S. HILL, B. Agric

FROM when it was first demonstrated at the Moumahaki Experimental Farm that lucerne does not demand a speciallyfavourable environment, such as alluvial flats, its extended use in this country was considered advisable as the principal means of supplementing pastures.' It is >pnly during the present season that its great value as a droughtresister has been appreciated. A visit to Marlborough at the .present time would convince the most captious critic that lucerne stands alone as a green fodder crop in a dry season. The whole countryside presents a burnt-up appearance except for the fields of lucerne which relieve the eye. Here and there the green patches indicate where lucerne is demonstrating its ability under the most adverse conditions to maintain a supply of succulent fodder for stock. Never before have the farmers of the district been under the necessity of grazing their lucerne-fields so bare. But little rain has fallen during the past six months, yet lucerne has stood the, test, and is distinctly the best asset at present possessed by Marlborough farmers. So great have been the demands on this crop for grazing and for hay that the area shut up for seed purposes has been necessarily reduced. It is only the rich alluvial river-deposit areas that the king of fodder plant is clothed in his royal purple.

There is |no doubt that the experience with lucerne in Marlborough and in other districts during this season will give a great fillip to its extended use. Marlborough is especially favoured for lucerne-growing in that good crops have been established and have been grown for a generation without the use of either lime, inoculated soil, 01 artificial fertilisers, which are apparently essential in other parts. To what extent the crop would be benefitted by the use of these stimulants is practically unknown. Lucerne-growers on the rich alluvial flats are for the most part content with present returns.. Those attempting the culture of lucerne on the less rich lands and low hills might benefit considerably by experiments in this direction. The close proximity of unlimited quantities of good limestone for agricultural purposes, as yet unworked, is a great natural asset. Although the season has been the driest on record, but few growers have adopted dryfarming methods.., The creation of a soil-mulch on' lucerne-fields after being cut or fed off would have greatly augmented the yield of numerous stands. At the present time many fields are so hard that it would be most difficult to stir the surface.

The climate of the Marlborough Province is peculiarly suitable for the production of farm and garden seeds. Lucerne-seed of high purity and germination is grown. The crop produced at Moumahaki Experimental Farm from seed grown in Marlborough has been found to be superior to that grown from Hunter River seed.

There is a cruciferous weed, the rocket (Ecuca sativa), which is principally known as a sourceindicator of European, Asiatic, and American seed. It is significant that this weed, although practically unknown to Marlborough lucerne-growers, has appeared in several plots sown with seed purchased in New Zealand as Marlborough lucerne. As the crop produced by this seed is two-thirds the weight produced by Marlborough or Hunter River seed, the attention of farmers is directed, to the point. This season much of the Marlborough seed will be placed on the market in 501b sealed bags, of which four will go to the sack. An estimate as to the yield of lucerne-seed from Marlborough, based on a favourable harvest, is from 30,0001b to 40,0001b. This will be sufficient to sow an area of from 2,500 to 3,000 acres.

The practice of feeding lucerne chaff to sheep during the winter months, as carried out by Messrs Adams Bros., of Blenheim, is economical as well as being beneficial in maintaining soilfertility. By means of self-feed-ers the sheep have lucerne chaff continuously before them, and the heavily stocked fields greatly benefit by the top-dressing of the animal manure.

This season lucerne is proving the salvation on many flocks and herds. It gives promise of becoming the leading fodder in this country for the production of fat stock and milk.

Marlborough farmers express, the opinion that where 10 acres? are in now 100 acres vail be sown in the near future.