ON THE LAND

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 22 April 1915, Page 3

ON THE LAND

LUCERNE GROWING

A FARMED, writing to the Whangarei ''Advocate," says: —

- A little over twelve months ago many of the farmers experimented with lucerne growing on a small scale of about an acre each, with a view of testing its suitability to our soils. These trials were carried out privately, in other instances in conjunction with the Department of Agriculculture on a co-operative basis.' Throughout New Zealand the Department undertook to cooperate with the lucerne experiments, and in February circularised the farmers as to the success or otherwise of experiments so conducted. The result having just come to hand, " Your Own " being on the list, submits the report for the benefit °of all readers.

The chief points brought out by numerous replies received are that while lucerne can be readily grown in certain types of alluvial soils and others, in practically every district in New Zealand where those types of soil occur, a large variety of soils in addition to the alluvial type can be readily adapted to lucerne growing by a reasonable treatment and good, clean cultivation. That it is generally more profitable to start preparing the land for lucerne for two seasons before it is required for same : (a) By the application of lime; (b).byploughing under, especially on lighter classes of soil, an abundant second growth of some green crop such as oats and vetches, grown probably for winter feed purposes ; (c) by sowing land thereafter in some temporary crop or pasture with which a few pounds of lucerne seed and inoculated soil have been mixed-, in order to breed up the particular bacteria required for lucerne; (d) ploughing same under after a fair interval and establishing lucerne upon same.

Such a system permits of liming and deep cultivation, and the subsequent consolidation of the soil before the introduction of lucerne. It also permits of frequent manuring of the soil and the incorporation of the manures and lime throughout the total*depth of the cultivated soil. Moreover, a long and unprofitable fallow is dispensed with.; in consequence loss of nitrates is avoided and the crops grown should well remunerate the farmer for the extra trouble taken and fertilisers used thereon. Good crops of lucerne have been frequently established after potatoes snd like crops which require deep cultivation, abundant manuring and afford opportunity for keeping land free from weeds.

Frequent failures have been accompanied by drilling the seed too deep on a loose seed bed, byneglecting to harrow lightly as soon as the young plants had got sufficient grip to the soil to stand it, by neglecting to cut immediately and harrow afterwards should crop become badly affected with brown spot, by excessive grazing (no lucerne crop should be grazed during its first year), by omitting the use of lime, fertilizers and inoculated soil, and by permitting weeds to smother young lucerne plants. Heavy wetland, or land in which water lies within about three feet of the surface, is usually unsuitable for lucerne. It is suggested that those who have succeeded in establishing a good plot of lucerne shall make a point of keeping the weeds in check and the soil loose by use of the spring-tooth cultivator. That those who have failed, or those whose crops are thin and only therefore a partial success, should plough up same and start again, remembering that their soil is probably by now to some extent inoculated, and that with fair treatment lucerne will probably rapidly establish itself upon the land if given a chance. It is worth remembering that nearly all soils require liming for lucerne; that all light soils will be benefitted by green nianuring ; that inoculation is an absolute necessity on many soils, and assists towards rapid establishment of the crop even where it may not be essential; that a liberal use of phosphate manure is desirable,

The general opinion, of all those who have secured good stands of lucerne and have had them some time is that " there is no better forage or more profitable forage crop," and also that in this season of drought " the lucerne plot stands out green as an oasis in the desert."

I eanna' leave the oid folk now, I'd better 'bide a woe, Dad's got a c:>!d, and Mimys not wellAnd pipes ti)e it her e'e I'll ga.!);;- doon to the corner store For Wood's Great Peppermint Cure And Mum and Dad will "greet" no more Aye—they'll be ricbt. for sura.