LUCERNE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 234, 12 March 1915, Page 3

LUCERNE.

| ITS VALUE TO THE POULTRYI KKKPER. (ISr Mr/VV. S. Hill, li.Agric.) It is impossible to expect a profitable | ; return from stock if when a staple food oars to a high level of value inferior :ilistituti'D are employed, and the aniials in consequence do not obtain tho I .ood-niaterials tliey deinand. Yet there «rc circumstances when, through too vouch reliance being placed on an expensive foodstu/I', valuable and more .economical substitutes are neglected. It regard to poultry-feeding, there haß been for some years an ample supply of grain that could be purchased at n reasonable price. This easy supply lias perhaps caused undue reliance to be placed on grain us a food for poultry. The increased shortage lias caused the want to be somewhat acutely felt. To be continually fed with grain is not an essential feature in the life of a bird, and it seems more natural that an ample supply of some nutritious fodder plant would almost replace the usual supply 0 f grain. The plant jnost adapted for this purpose is lucerne, found to be invaluable for the maintenance of perfect health in horses, cattle, sheep and pigs_ its usefulness also extends to the feeding of poultry. j For this purpose lucerne can be utilised either as chaff, to largely replace the grain ration, or as green'food. The great value of a plot of lucerne lies in the fact that it supplies a permanent source of highly nutritious food. Xo sooner is the plant out back than new shoots spring out to form a fresh succulent growth. Those who have a plot of lucerne will amply testify as to its value during tin's season.

To those poultry-farmers Visiting to row lucerne it would seem advisable to prepare tlie laud immediately. Lucerne requires a well-drained soil, free from weeds, sweet, and well supplied with orsanic. matter; Any inclination to lie arid or sour my he counteracted by draining, exposure to the atmosphere, mid the application of quicklime or burnt limestone at the rare of 2ewt. per square chain. With the exception of limestone land the application of the lime will be beneficial. 'The land intended for lucerne should be the recipient of all the valuable poultry manure. The application of this would save to some extent the purchase of artificial fertilisers. For autumn planting sow early in March, in order to have strong plants before the winter frosts set in. Tf winter frosts are severe in the locality sowing would be preferably delayed until late spring. Prepare the land so that there is a. good tilth on the surface, and then finn well by rolling until the feet will not sink. The seed may be broadcasted, and for this purpose mix- 21b of seed with from a quarter to half a hundredweight of basic slag, or other phosphatic fertiliser, or with soil where poultry manure is employed, and apply to a 'square chain. Lightly rake to cover seed, and again roll. ITo sow in drills make drills 14in to -24 in apart. Row seed and fertiliser very lightly at the rate of lib to l'/Ub seed per square chain. Lightly cover and firm the drills. Keep as free from weeds as possible. If the lucerne does not grow sufficiently rapidly water with liquid manure or nitrate of soda at the rate of lib. to 20 gallons of water. After cutting, and especially in hot, dry weather, keep the soil among the plants between tlie drills well stirred. In many cases tlie use of inoculated soil is found to stimulate the growth. This soil may be. obtained from any established plot of lucerne having nodules on the roots of plants or from Moumahaki Experimental Farm. The varieties of lucerne most suited for general culture in this country are Mswlborough, Hunter River and Peruvian. Tlie two former are the best all-round varieties, while the last-named variety grows 7iiore ra'piilly, yields more cuts, but does not produce the weight that can be obtained from the former. Poultry farmers who have suitable land are strongly advised to prepare land for lucerne, and, if conditions are suitable, to sow down in early autumn.