St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-08-31
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
lueerne as q Forage Crop

Lucerne, as q soiling and forage
crop. is specially adapted to the soil
and climate of the Southern States.
1t withstands the drought Of summer
and the severest cold of this latitude.
1t keeps constantly green and. during
mild winters. it is constantly growing.
Its roots penetrate from ten to twenty
feet beneath the surface. and. as 1t
draws q large part of its substance
from the atmosphere. it thrives and
grows vigorously where other plants
droop and die.
The soil best adapted to lucern is a
rich sandy loan. with a good. we'll
drained subsoil. 1t will not grow upon
land that retains water. Before seed
ing. the land should be well broken
and thoroughly pulverized. The
analysis of lucerne would indicate that
good supply of lime in the soil will
be of advantage. II the land is put
in good tilth after being well manured.
! know of no crop that will make q
more abundant yield than lucerne. My
first crop will be ready to cut by
April %. Under favorable seasons
| l will be able to save four more during
the year. do not believe there is any
known plant that will yield more nutri-
ment, per acre. than lucerne. Prof.
Wreffs analysis of lucerne. when in
blossom and cut for hay. shows. al
buminoids. 144; carbohydrates. 22.5;
crude fiber. 40; fat, 2.5. in 100 parts
The amount of forage that can be
grown on suitable, well-prepared lot
of lucerne is wonderful. 1t is especial
| ly adapted to the production OF milk
and butter Cows are very fond OF it
In q test. made in an experiment sta
| ton In one OF the Western States, 1t
was found to be an admirable food for
hogs. One acre will furnish sufficient
food for four cows. during the season
| OF soiling. One farmer claims to have
kept four horses on an acre from the
first of May until the first Of October.
without any other food.
When quite young it is liable to be
overrun by weeds and destroyed. twill
be better, therefore. to SOW in the fall
in drills about l5 or Is inches apart.
and keep entirely free from grass and
weeds for the first year. After that
the growth will be sufficiently early
and vigorous to take care OF itself. 1t
is sometimes sOwn broadcast with
good results. but the crop is much
more certain il sown in drills and cul-
tivated. After the first year 1t is only
necessary to top dress and lightly har-
row. Properly cared for one seeding
will last ten or twenty years.
One farmer. near me claims to have
saved ninety dollars from the use ol
one acre in lucerne. as food for his
stock. In such sections of the State
as will not grow red clover to advan-
tage, lucerne can be cultivated with
great profit. It's rapid growth. after
being cut. RECEIVERS its vitality and
shelters its roots from the hot sun. 1t
revives and rapidly RECEIVERS itself un-
der drought that would utterly de-
stroy less vigorous plants
II tho farmers in Georgia would
take a few of the acres they have been
giving to cotton, manure very heavily.
thoroughly pulverize and SOW to lu-
cerne. as suggested above, they would
obtain a large amount of very desira-
BILE stock food at very little cost--W.
j. NOrthen. in Southern Cultivator.