The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-04-21
RUR.fE ECO.eD.NY:
From The S. c. Temperance Advocate.
LUCERNE.

From The y. L. Temperance Adrocdte.
LUCERNE.
DE-. Darlington describes grass as " hav.
ing n c. lindtcal j1iuted stem, with the
joints solid, and the intervening portions
hollow, or, in few instances Ged with
a plih.l subslance--the leaves alternate,
one originating at each JOINT, contracting
the stem with lis base, aud forming a
sheath which is slit on one side down 10 is
origin, aud the flowers projected by those
peculiar envelopes huoan b. the name Of
i chUF.' Every such plant, be assures u,
is "frle grass" Tins description N.
cludes lodian Corp, Broom Corn, Sugar
Cane, Wheat, &c, while /, excludes La.
cesne and Clover. Whether Lucerue BE-
entitled 10 TIE denomination Of grass or
not, II Yields 10 none Of them for soil feed
ius aud besides b, eng more productive aud
loug lived, as well as more paialabie TO
horses and COWS, than red clover, II IS free
from rs sallyaing quality. lnseyen years,
| have cut lhihy.tite heavy crops d IL
cetne from one seeding, averaging FIVE
crops scar. The largest number Of crops
IN any one year, va. seven, the smallest
four. Manure was applied once only dur.
( tug the time, and then as top dressing -
The sol was a deep red clay, made light
by deep plouehing aud manure.
have ,red drilling and broad cast, md
much prefer the latter: first. because the
number Of plants bong much greater, the
I yield is greater; secondly, because the Ia.
Dor Of cultivation IS saved. Some sup.
! pose that without annual culture with the
/ plough OF hoe, the plant must loss lis viz
or, and be oyerpowered BY weeds and grass.
Such is not The result Of nv experience
have eradicated blue grass the enemy
mos, to be dreaded--by coulteiiug, and
cross cou!iering, narrowing and cross bar
rowlag, until every root 81 lhe blue grass
is torn up and the sulluce OF the ground
completely rutyerized, and then raking oil
the blue grass. This is to be done in the
Winter, once IN thee years, aud a good
tor dressing Of rich maourc should follow.
| have used ashes aud stable manure, Sc.
paraiely ADD combined. The two comb,n.
60 have given the best product.
PREPARATION OF ruE GROUND.
Plough or spade deeply: pulverivza
completely; manure richly. Break up the
ground 10 the fall, aud the winter, trusts
will mellow It..
QUANTITY OF SEED TO THE ACHE.
Ii the seed be very good, the season We.
rs favorable, aud tic sowing done in the
bes, manner, tao gallons may suffice but
under any circumstances would SOW
twice that quantity.
TINE or SOWING,
Lacerne, like clover, II soSn 10 tie fall
will survive q moderate winter, and be de
s;royed by a severe one. prefer sowing
IN September nevertheless, and running the
risk. Should /, survive The winter, It viii
give several good crops the ensuing year.
Shou'L i he destroyed, the ground is 10 fine
condition The next spring for my crop You
please. You may, IN that e,cn', sow IL
cernc again 10 the spring, or after gather
ing heavy crop Of corn, run the same
risk again the next all
When sown 10 the spring the ucerne does
not give a crop tlll the next spring. After
attaining to the height of six inches, il be.
gins to wilher, and its scily aspect indu.
ces in the inexperienced the fear that his
labor IS lost. Il will however bear the
scytho without iuluryi and moving IS com.
monty necessary to destroy the weeds. If
sown IN the spring, tho bes, time is from
tho middle or end Of MAY, to The middle Of
June, the ground having been plonghed sew
eral things lightly al intervals OF two or
three weeks, un,l the superficial seeds Of
grass aud weeds have been destroyed.
MANNER or SOWING.
The ground beng prepared as above
described, eud made as smooth and level
as possible, by means OF the harrow and
brush, mark II of with hand plough, or
small pole from the wood pile, into lands
of SIX or seven feet, aud scatter the seed as
uniformly as possible; ct would be well to
mois,eu the seed with warm water, two or
three DAYS previously to sowing , and then
apply heavy roller once, or hight one
twice, and tho work is done The value
Of the roller is so little known IN the South,
lha, many Of our great (Iargc should say
farmers, arc without that indispensable in
strument. II you can't get roller, the
difficulty is easily obviated, byhrst ascer
lteining from a weather witch, when there
will be a hard rain, brushing in the seed
Just before it, and letting the shower do the
work OF tho roller.
p. S. have seen il stated, and do not
doub, the fact, that one seeding Of lucerne
will last twenty years.
Good Adrice-0hey the voice OF those
who lovo YOU; be kind TO those who coun'