FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1921, Page 10

FARM AND DAIRY.

LUCERNE GROWING. • EXPERIMENTAL NOTES. (Contributed by 8.W.) Now that the time for sowing lucerne (the inestimable and treasured alfalfa of America) is within measuring distance, a few practical notes on its local cultivation should be acceptable to th'ose numerous pastoral readers of the Daily News interested in stock-raising and milk-pro-duction in North Taranaki, since all live stock throughout, even to the egg-pro-ducer, take to its succulent food with avidity.

Before details, let emphasis be given to four essential points in the cultivation of lucerne, namely, that soil be worked to a fine tilth, be well limed, be clean, an<i be sweet. The two first points really embrace the others, sinee securing a fine tilth by repeated harrowings at frequent intervals during the month of November, when weed-growth comes into activity, effects to a degree cleanliness, whilst liming will attain sweetness by correcting sourness or acidity in the ground—conditions fatal to lucerne cultivation. The experimental plot in question (about 1 /Bth acre of an old hay paddock) was, late last year, deeply ploughed, criss-cross disced, and well harrowed into a fine texture. Tine harrowing with a lever-harrow continued frequently during November, at the end of which month the surface was hand-raked, and al] remnants of 1 the previous pasture were heaped hero and there on the plot, burnt, and ashes therefrom evenly scattered. Agricultural lime was then broadcast at the rate of 10c wt. per acre. Close harrowing was then continued at weekly intervals uAtil the third week in December. On December 20 about Ic-Wt. of sifted subsoil and lime was broadcast. (This mixture—clean subsoil having been obtained from another paddock—had been thoroughly worked up and incorporated in a shed two weeks before application, and was used instead of inoculated soil). The plot was then finally harrowed and lightly rolled. Next day, December 21, the hand-drill put in. 9 inches apart and 2 inches deep, rows of manure composed of bone-dust and basic super, equal parts, well mixed, at the rate of scwt. per acre. Immediately upon these rows. Marlborough seed was drilled about half-an-inch deep at the rate of 201 b per acre. The whole surface was then lightly rolled.

Despite all preparatory cleaning work, weeds came up with the lucerne, but the latter soon took the lead and kept it, and was left to go on its own way without further treatment before cutting. Eight weeks after sowing the average height of crop was 1 foot 6 inches, when cutting was commenced (February 22), leaving six inches of growth upon crowns. Un March 9 a cutting, eighteen inches long, was shown at the Taranaki Agencies, Ltd., booth at the Agricultural Show. From this company the excellent seed was obtained. As cutting went on, cleaning was done between the rows with a narrow rake. By this time the crop was indisputably established,, and was far and away more than holding its own against any adverse competitor for a place. These notes from practical experience treat of the special cultivation up to the state of the lucerne becoming a fixture, and may be all that would now interest your readers and pastoral friends, who may be thinking of cultivating this invaluable leguminoiw fodder plant.

Further notes on after treatment may be of interest at a later date. The four important points are again emphasised, in efforts to woo this somewhat fastidious legume, as essential to success: Working of soil to a fine tilth, well-lim-ing. cleanliness, and sweetness. The present condition of the experimental plot will be shown to any one interested therein by Mr. Benoni White, Mangorei Road, who will be glad to impart any further information.