The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1876-04-05
! LUCERNE.l

Alfalfa. as il is called in Spanish. or
English Lucerne, [Aiedicago S:atisa) has
bsen known from the time of Dorius. Ii
was transplanted from Persia to Greece
about 500 years b. q. 1t is extensively
cultivated in Europe, and especially in the
south of France, as forage plant, but |
am persuaded that its value is not as fully
understood and appreciated as il should be
in the South.
/ have for the last eight years expert
mented with Red Clover. Orchard Grass,
Hungarian Grass. Tor German Millei. and
Lucerns. place the latter 1t The head Of
all. Il gives the greatest amount Of green
food or hay. than any other plant we have.
and with the least trouble after. the FIRST
year. am satisfied that I.ncerne cannot
ee exeelled for soiling purposes. II has
helped me wonderfully. more than any
nther grass for carrying out the plan Of soil
ing which I adopted several years ago. 1t
i veil relished BY all kinds Of stock. both
green and dry. and is exceedingly nutriti-
ous. III
In some respects il is decidedly superior
to Red Glover. is 10 being perennial, aud
consequently remaining long In The soil.
one seeding will last for ten years or more
producing good and profitable crops. When
once fully established It will yield heavy
crops. and may be.cnt. if on rich soil. once
u month"; II have cut il a. often as eight
times ID one season. It's yield commences
much earlier than Clover. Drought does
not seem TO affect Il. Ia the dryest weather.
when all other vegetation i dropping. Luz
cerns will be fresh and green.
Itsefect is to improve the soil rather
chan exhaust it. since ii sends is long fusi-
form roots deep into the sabsoil. Ilsroots
have been known to reach four feet down
III the gr03n. Iii q we'll known fact that
all Ieguminous, broad leaf plants derive
also alsrge portion Of their nutrinasns from
the atmosphere. while the luxnriant foliage
serves toshade the soil and thus increase fer
figitv. ssi
We would urge every one efonr readers,
who havea horse. COW or pig to prepare .
small piece Of ground and seed down IN Luz
csrne az once. The seed can be- mad at
any Of the drug stores IN Charlotte. |
have ordered some lately for some parties
from Wilson & Black, Charlotte. at fifty
cents per pound. Nine years ago paid
eighty cents per pound.
70 succeed ID growing Lucerns. a soil
neither too light nor too stiff should be Sc
hsste5. very heavily nisnnred. broken up
very deep. Il possible subsoilei. and rem
dered mellow ~ successive plOwings and
borrowings.
Lueerne may 10 sown either ia drills or
broadcast, With Or without grain. Twelve
pounds Of seed IRE required FOR one acre IL
drilled aud twenty pounds Il sCwu broad.
cast.
have succoeded best in sowing ii in the
Spring. from the isi9dle to the last Of
Msrrh and 10 drills 1t distance Of sixteen
inches apart. covering the seed lightly.
The cultivation 81 lsncerne il sonsewhat
more diEksall than ctiasr grass the frgt
year
The plants arc very tender he frss year.
and weeds are very Injurious. and crowd
cut the young plants. which are slow IN
Starting. For shisreason sowing IN drills
i 70 be recommended. a. The hoe Jr cult.
satcriesn then Be used. As son 81 The
young plants are few inches high. they
should Be weodea carefnlly. and the inter-
walls kept clean. This wedding and clesn-
ing should b done several times during the
season.
Lueerns shnnld lie cns IA soon a. Il
blooms. since II left longer, the stalks Le-
come woody, II cut much before. il Is wa-
teFy and innaiTiiioos One or two cuttings
msy Be obtained the Grst season On rich
sOil, thoroughly mellowed. and prepared
b. careful liilase. cultivated clean until
the planfs are vel st -. Z. Is. III Slsgl-
w Banner.