The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-04-13
FARMERS COLUMN.
LUcERNE FOR soILING STOCK.

Each year the Importance of growing
some crop to be cut and fed to stock in
summer, especially in time of drought OF
extreme heat, is becoming better under
stood. Mich COWS perhaps most show
the advantage Of such feeding, but, horses
fattening and young cattle, sheep and
hogs, would be often greatly benefited
if some provision had been made to sup
ply them with fresh green feed when the
pastures are parched, or as change from
the regular feed. Lucerne is now attract
ing much attention as suitable plant for
the purpose. The Utica Herald publish
es the following communication from
Richard Gibson, Of New York Mills, N.
T., who has had experience in growing
Lucerne both in England and in this
country.
Respecting the cultivation of Lucerne,
| will give my experience with great
pleasure, as feel convinced that is soil
ing crop which has only to be tried to be
more generally grown. 1t is essentially
a soiling crop, being ready to cut in the
spring before red clover, and continuing
to produce heavy cuttings all through the
summer no matter how hot or dry Last
season, though unusually dry, did not ap
pear to check its growGh, as we were able
to NOW over one portion of the field five
times, and another, only seeded last
spring, was cut four.
There are crops that will yield great
er weight of feed per acre at one emitting
corn, for instance-and which is crop
that lucerne cannot supplant, as 1t yields
a very heavy weight of green food at that
season of the year when most of our
dairy farmers are requiring such. But
as soiling crop proper, know of none
that can compare with lucerne, and it is
one that few farmers can afford to be
without. It yields a heavy weight of
feed all the summer, of excellent quality (,
and one that does not require the expense
of blowing and re-seeding after each cut
ting, nor each year, as by proper man
agement and on suitable soils it will re-
main profitable five years.
It's relative value, as compared with
corn is decidedly superior, our sheep and
cattle not only prefering but ''doing"
much better on it. In fact, corn with me
has not proved very satisfactory soiling
crop-cattle fed on it generally losing
fesh-until we have all but given up
growing it for that purpose.
The finest hay we have this winter
that is the hay our calves and sheep pre-
fer is that with a little lucerne in it. Go
ing onto the hay NOW the other day, |
saw hole cut in it. Inquiring the rea-
son, I ascertained that the shepherd had
found where load or two of hay, with
little lucerne sprinkled through it, had
been moved away, and that he had been
getting it for his sheep, as they ate it
better than good clover hay.
A rich, dry soil, with an open, porous
sub-soil, is the most congenial to the
growth of lucerne; but it will succeed
we'll on any soil that will grow red clover
to perfection.
The seed my be sown, broadcast, or in
drills 10 to 10 inches apart. In England
we generally followed the latter course, so
that after each cutting, or as often as
might be necessary, we could run through
the horseshoe, to loosen the soil and
destroy weeds, ETC., and by these means
the crop would be grown successfully ten
years. But here have generally adopted
the former plan, sowing from IL to Is
pounds of seed per acre, as early in the
spring as the season will permit.
The soil should be thoroughly prepared
in the fall, by deep blowing, and manur-
ing with rich, well-rotted dung, or what
would be perhaps better, 81. or 40 bushels
of bone dust per acre, there be less liza
bility of having foul seeds introduced, as
this is a crop that is easily checked or
run over by weeds, etc.
In the spring the soil may be tighten
ed with two-horse cultivator, or scarf
fer, making fine surface mould. The
latter is essentially necessary to get a
good plant. The seed being very small,
will only require lightly brushing in,
The after cultivation will consist year
ly of good top dressing Of well rotted
dung in the fall, and narrowing and roll
ing In the spring. ooe
As said before, weeds easily choke it i
it will therefore be advisable to select a
rich piece of soil free from weeds, and
SOW after. some hoed crop, such as roots
or potatoes.
The first season will yield fair crop,
but tie second, third and fourth will be
the best.
To THOSE WHO EMPLOY FARM La
BOXERS We find the following sound
advice in the Rural World:
We wish to talk few minues with.
farmers and their wives, who EMPLOY
men during the summer season, or dur
ing the entire year, about the manner in
which they often treat those sons of toll
First Of all do not ha confinuo liz Hpa;,,o.