54 On the Giant Sainfoin. 



III. — On the Giant Sainfoin. By Thomas Hine. 



The Giant Sainfoin, as it has been styled by Mr. Hart, of 

 Ashwell, Herts, the fortunate introducer thereof, was totally un- 

 known in this neigfhbourhood until about twenty years ago. It 

 was then, on Mr. Hart's inquiring in the market for Sainfoin seed, 

 that he was apprised by the late Mr. Carrington, of Shefford, 

 Beds, that he had twenty bushels of old seed he was at liberty to 

 try ; for which, if it did not grow, he would make no charge. 

 These terms being accepted, the seed was sown, but, owing to 

 its being late in the season and a dry summer following, it did 

 not vegetate until the autumn, but in ihe spring it became vigor- 

 ous and strong, and turned out to be a distinct species of the 

 plant, possessing such peculiar properties, as will go far ulti- 

 mately to supersede the growth of the common stock, unless it be 

 upon some of the very poorest of our soils, where it is sown for 

 purposes for which the Giant species would-be unsuitable, and to 

 which I may hereafter advert. 



The crop thus obtained was mown for hay in the usual way : 

 but Mr. Hart was surprised to find, that about six weeks after it 

 presented him with another crop, in full flower. This also was 

 mown for hay ; but in September it came again into flower, and 

 again was cut for hay. The same fertility in its growth occurred 

 in the second year, and with the same results, save that it excited 

 the wonder of the neighbourhood, and was the subject of general 

 discussion. This led Mr. H. the third year of its being in plant 

 to suffer the second crop to go to seed, which, with all the stock 

 since produced therefrom, has possessed the same peculiar pro- 

 perties ; and a desire being evidenced by many parties to procure 

 the stock, Mr. H. was enabled to dispose of his seed for many 

 years at prices varying from 50^. to 80s. per bushel. 



Although residing in the immediate neighbourhood where it 

 was introduced, and a large grower of Sainfoin, I must confess 

 that I was rather sceptical as to its being so decidedly superior 

 to the common stock, as to justify the enormous price demanded 

 for the seed ; at length, however, by repeated examinations of the 

 plant in its different stages for two or three years, I became fully 

 alive to its important properties, and determined to possess my- 

 self thereof: I did so, and my success and disappointment I shall 

 proceed to detail. 



Having obtained two bushels of seed, I sowed it in July upon 

 land which had been prepared for turnips, and obtained a fair 

 plant ; but the fly made such ravages thereon, that I was reluc- 

 tantly compelled to plough it up. My next effort was made in 

 the month of March following, by obtaining from Mr. Hart 4 

 bushels of seed, for which I paid him 8O5. per bushel ; and, being 



