The Chronicle LEVIN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1917. LUCERNE AS FODDER.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 February 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1917. LUCERNE AS FODDER.

Lucerne is a foildc. plant so eminently k.lital)ie to the needs oi Levin district that the comparative negleji; to cultivate it here is subject for wonderment. It needs careiul weeding in iis early development stages, but when properly established it is a great resistjl' of drought, and seems to thrive on

frequent cutting. As many as six cuttings in one season have been taken from a field ol it in the couth Island of -New Zealand. Ln stony ground it sometimes sinks its roots twenty to . thirty l'eet deep, hence its ability to dry weather conditions. The <. hionicle notes, in a Parliamentary L'aper received from Wellington tli.s week, a report by -Vlr E. Clifton, of tilt: .Sow Zealand Agricultural De--1 artiiient, on a trip lie made to Canada and the United States, some little v.hiei back, to iuspecfc instructional farms in tucse countries. " Regarding his investigations into, the growing of liicerne, he writes From the experiments conducted with Jlucprne cjitr-l taiil" conclusions can be drawn horn the results obtained, and the knowlodge may be of scrviec to fanners in .New Zealand who purpose sowing this crop under irrigable conditions—viz., that ''heavy spring irrigation, when followed by long periods throughout the summer without water, did not benefit lucerne." Examination of the root-growth under these conditions thawed that water applied to the little plants in the early spring produces a root-growth outwardly along the sur. face of the soil, rather than downward, and when this is followed by long dry periods the soil, dryiug out, leaves the young plants stranded above the moisture zone. Far better jesults were obtained by delaying irrigation until the root-growth was well established, and even until the little, p ants; seemed to be stunted and suffering from want of moisture. Welldeveloped, deep-rooted plants mean heavier yields. Late ancl very late summer irrigations tend to produce sturdier plants arid heavier yields the following summer. After the rootgrowth is well established the growth may be forced by frequent and, if the soil will stand it, heavy irrigation. In general, however, experience indicates that frequent shallow irrigations are to be preferred to occasional heavy tloodings. From observations ail irrigation of about three acre inches ten days before cutting the lucernc brings the best results on most soils. Irrigating at this time before cutting has a tendency to overcome leafshedding, and it should he remembered that the best part of the food value of lucerne is in the leafage. Lucerne should not be allowecl to become too mature before cutting, as when this occurs there is sure to be considerable leaf-dropping and food lest. There are two "good rules to follow in determining time to cut. The first is to -Cilt when an occasional blossom is to seen in the field—tlris is a fairly good rule; but the second is to cut when new growth appears at the crown of the plant, and is perhaps more reliable. Finally, the lucerneplanter should remember that lie is dealing with a growth of high foodvalue, capable "of being used as a ration for all farm animals, and a plant that will continue to produce ' well through a generation or longer, and he should spare no pains in getting the best result*, from his .plantings. Proper care at al.l points is eminently essential, particularly so in the initiatory stages in having the land thoroughly clean, a good linn seed bed, the seed drilled in in straight rows to admit of intercultivation being given, and the keeping thoroughly free from weeds until the plant becomes properly established.

lii a further note, Mr Clifton writes: Ex-Governor Howard, of Fort Atkinson, 'Winconsiii, whose Irepultation as-a dairy farmer and as proprietor of Howard's "Dairyman newspaper is world-wide, and whose dairy fsirm •I had an opportunity of visiting and ihere viewing his fine dairy herd cf Guernsey cows, says that "No ma more literally abets the growth of two blades of grass where one grew before than lie who effectively urges the cultivation of lucerne upon those who

are strangers to it, and. no one is more truly working for the benefit <>l agriculture, the basis of all prosperity, than he who proclaims its excellence as the foremost forage." It is said that -lucerne growing marks the highest development in our modern agriculture, and lucerne ,is the agricultural wonder of the twentieth century. Lucerne is the most perfect atiimal food known to man; it is very productive and cheaply produced. It -is the most highly nutritious and palatable of feeds for all classes of farm animals—dairy cows, beef cattle, sh swine, horses poultry, and also bees, much honey being obtained from .1 cerne wherever largely grown. Wellestablished fields, properly looked aiVr and cultivated after each crop is ha - vested, at five and six years old yield better crops than those of two or three years old. It is difficult to say Mow long a life lucerne may luave. In Colorado there are fields that have been producing hay for over tweasyfive years, and producing just as luxuriant growth apparently as young ir fie'.ds. In California there are field's considerably over fifty years still t.inducing excellent crops. The ann al value of the lucerne crop in California approximates £7,000,000, and the acreage devoted to its cultivation is .gradually increasing.