_s._ _d._ _April_ 14. One single unho’d Plant of Luserne had Thirty-one Stalks, which, by Silver-Money, weigh’d green 23 0 24. The same dried to Hay, weigh’d 6 6 14. The Stalks of one single ho’d Luserne-plant green, weigh’d 56 0 24. The same dry’d 14 6 14. Eighteen Inches in Length of a Row, being five indifferent Plants, weigh’d green one Pound and an half _Avoirdupois_ 24. Dry’d to Hay, it weigh’d 28 6 25. One Foot of an ho’d Row, being One hundred and Sixty Stalks of two Luserne Plants of Six or Seven Years old, weigh’d Two Pound green But the same dry’d, to the 9th of _May_, weigh’d no more than 31 6 Which last is about Three Tons to an Acre. This I am certain of, that the least competent Number of Plants will bring the greatest Number of Crops: since I see the Stalks of a single ho’d Plant grow higher in Fifteen Days, than one amongst near Neighbours does in Thirty Days. The greatest Difference between the Culture of this and St. Foin is, that Luserne Rows should be more grown, before the Plants be made single in them by the Hand-hoe, lest the Fly should destroy some afterwards, and then they might become too thin. For Luserne is sometimes eaten by the Fly, as Turneps are, tho’ St. Foin be never liable to that Misfortune, if sown in a proper Season. Luserne must also be more frequently ho’d[200], in some Proportion to the more frequent Crops it produces. [200] The Hoe-plough is the Instrument to bring it to Perfection: but then I doubt it must lie still some Years, lest the plow’d Earth injure the Hay that is made upon it; and when it is come to a Turf, and the Luserne wants renewing, the Four coulter’d Plough is the only Instrument that can prepare the Turf to be kill’d, and cure the Luserne; which Plough must be used in the following Manner: Turn its Furrows toward one Row, and from the next; that is, plow round one Row, and that will finish Two Intervals, and so on; and the next Plowing must be towards those Rows, from whence they were turn’d the first time; take care the first Furrows do not lie long enough on the Rows to kill the Plants, which will be much longer in Winter than in Summer. But you may leave every Third or Fourth Interval unhoed for making the Hay on, which will be yet more beneficial, if the Swarths in mowing should fall thereon. This unhoed Interval may be plowed when there is Occasion, and another left in its stead.