HOW TO GROW LUCERNE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3030, 29 October 1908, Page 3

HOW TO GROW LUCERNE.

The plant grows beat in deep, friable loamy soils, containing lime, with porous, well-drained dfttp subsoils. In this lucerne establishes itself rapidly, penetrates the subsoils to great depth, and eventually becomes one of the bast drought-re- . aistant plants we possess. In all situations where there exists under ground w'pter, lucerne will send its roots down. JRich creek or xiver flats are beat, provided there is no serious overflow. The long vigorous roots of ths plant grow to great depths in search of plant food and moisture. Instances are on record in Australia where splendid lucerne paddocks sown forty years ago are still giving six to eight heavy cuts per annum. The roots are found in a healthy state thirty feet below the surface. • This, of course, is where the plant is grown under ideal conditions. It I is much shorter-lived on poorer soils ' "and in dry districts. It can.be grown more or elss luxuriantly on a wide range of soils. It is simply surprising how vigorous the plant is, and how it survives the greatest hard-, ships so long as the soils, however poor, are deep and naturally or artificially well drained. Lucerne is not influenced by altitude, so long as the soils are deep, warm, and well drained, and moisture is available. On lands with stiff clay subsoils, and where water is likely to lodge round the roots more than fortyeight hours, the plant does not flourish. It must be remembered tt|flt lucerne is a gross feeder, and when once established will last a number of years, and, from a monetary point of view, will afford a greater return than any other fodder. The success of its growth to a great ex- / tent depends on the selection of the land and the care and intelligence bestowed on the preliminary? preparation of the soil. _ The land must be clean and free from weeds. To effect this one or -more crops should be taken off, not only to get rid of weeds, but to enable a proper system of fertilisation to be effected (also liming if needed).