Litchfield enquirer., 1829-06-18
AGRICULTURAL.
From tke Nep England Farmer.
LUCERNE,

LUCERNE.
 MT. Editor-Being fully convinced, that the Lucerne grass will be most important and valuable substitute for clover,I think it duty, to add the further experience, which l have had in relation to it. One is now in its eighth summer. Two in their third, and one in it's second. While or chard grass and clover perished in our late trying winter in considerable quantities, tho lucerne is more vigorous than cver.- Those who know the great depth, to which this root extends, will not be surprised at this result. I cut lucerne for soiling (e> ven this late season) on the tenth of May, and the new shoots after cutting, are at this time eight inches high.
 The grounds of preference of the lu- cerne 10 the clover are the following:
 1. The clover is biennial plant, and like all other biennial plants it furnishes poor, or no crop the first year, and dies at the end of the second. If uninformed minds should oppose this last assertion, because they find clover always in their grounds, l reply, that this is, because the seeds are abundant in our soil ,and manure, there is constant succession of plants--but let any one SOW clover only, and in the third sumner his field will present most desolate appearance.
 The next superiority of lucerne over clover is, that it will give three crops, often four, at least, in good land, in the same season in which it was sown, pros vided it be sown in April. Intthis respect, | am able to assert from experience, that it is better adapted to our climate, than even to that of France, for reasons, which I think, in addition to tho fact, would be sat- isfactory.
 3. The lucerne is not SO coarse a grass, as the clover-its stalks never become so woody, and yet they afelstiffer aud less lia- ble to lodge. e3@t ~t eaa@ata
 As to curing it for hay, it is about as as clover, but if got in half cured, and salted, it makes a better hay. Now let me not Dc misunderstood on this subject. There is nothing, which is so injurious to the prevalence of sound opin- ions on all subjects, as e1GggerGtion. It has done more mischief in all arts, and sciences, than any other cause. a
 Luceyme is only to be compared with elOUcr. It is no sort of substitute for the grasses. It cannot be put, for a moment, in competition, with herds grass, as we call it, or. timothy us the southern people term it-or for orchard grass, or for .pratensis, or red top, or the, naadnl0- fax tail. thA -s4,xcallant -grass by Mir. Pllinney, the tall meadow oat grass. These grasses are, md must be, .foreyer, our chief depend snce for excellent hay.
 I recommend the lucerne solely as a substitute for Dutch clorer, and it ought to take its place, and within twenty years, it piN take its place, every where, in A. merica. say it, without fear of ridicule.
 The lucerne is the favorite grass of France, south of the river Loire, of.Spain, Portugal, and Italy-of Rio Janeiro-of Buenos Ayres and Chili. Why does it suit these climates? Because its long tap root enables it to sustain the long droughts and excessive heats of these climates. But we, in Massachusetts, are subject, in an eminent degree, to these same evils. When our crops fail, it is chiefly O,cing to these canses.-The lucerne is calcula- ted for early, and late pasturage--for small farmers, yielding at last double the quantity of food, which any other plant can do. may be called a specalatiUe farmer, and am so, if g years close att tention entities me to the name. But farmers will find, that 50 far as it respects this production, my experi- ments have not been without their prGc- tic0l use. J. LOWELL.
 Roxbury, June 1, 1929. s
 Goossberry bushes.-A gentleman who has for seven years protected his goose-