206 



the reader to a work by George Sinclair, entitled "Details of Experi- 

 ments on Grasses." 



Lucerne is of French growth, but was introduced into British hus- 

 bandry about the middle of the seventeenth century. It flourishes most 

 luxuriantly in deep, rich, friable loams, but it will thrive in sound, mel- 

 low soil of any kind. It is useless to attempt its cultivation on wet and 

 marshy ground. The land must be kept clean from weeds, otherwise its 

 luxuriant growth will be greatly impeded. It should be sowed early in. 

 the spring, as soon as the land becomes dry, and drilled in rows, two- 

 feet apart, so that by repeated hoe culture it may be kept sufficiently 

 clean. Ten pounds per acre is the proper quantity of seed. Mr. Sin- 

 clair gives a most extraordinary account of its productions. He states 

 that, at the time the seed is ripe, it produces seventy thousand seven hun- 

 dred and eighty-five pounds per acre, but it loses nearly two-thirds of its- 

 weight in drying: leaving twenty-eight thousand, three hundred and 

 fourteen pounds of haj", containing 1^64ths of nutritive matter. 



The first use of lucerne was for soiling horses or other cattle, from 

 four to five of which may be supported by the produce of an acre during 

 the six summer months ; the grass being cut and given to the cattle in a 

 fresh state. This plant is also well calculated for the summer feeding of 

 cows. I am inclined to think lucerne as valuable for the quality and 

 frequent succession of the crops, and its duration in the soil, as for its 

 fattening qualities. If often manvired, and kept clean from weeds by 

 repeated hoeings, it will last from fifteen to twenty years, and yield lux- 

 uriant to the last. It is well suited for milch cows, causing them to- 

 yield rich and abundant milk. It has been successfully employed in 

 soiling sheep and hogs ; and as the latter do not feed down so closely 

 as the former, they may be admitted upon lucerne plantations with 

 safety. 



Sainfoin vegetates with considerable luxuriance, on dry chalky soils, 

 but its produce is far inferior in quality to the lucerne. It yields but 

 eight thousand eight hundred and forty-eight pounds per acre, but then 

 little more than half of it is lost in drying, and it contains 24-64-ths of 

 nutritive matter. 



These, then, with the four varieties of clover, viz : white Dutch, trefoil, 

 red clover, perennial clover or marl grass, constitute the best varieties 

 of the Ensrlish trasses. 



