On the Giant Sainfoin. 57 



also known where a party grew a small quantity, and placed it in 

 the middle of a large stack of the common stock, that the horses 

 gave a decided preference to the few cakes of the Giant species, 

 whenever it was arrived at in cutting down. I have also clear 

 proof that the fodder arising therefrom, when it is cut for seed, is 

 superior to that produced by the common *stock, when each is 

 equally well gotten. 



But before I leave the subject of the peculiar properties of this 

 species, I must remark, that it matures itself much quicker than 

 the common stock, which never attains full perfection before the 

 second, or, in some cases, the third year after it is in plant ; but I 

 have known the Giant species produce, upon a chalky soil, 2 tons 

 of hay per acre the first season it was in plant. Still, however, I 

 have never yet known a crop of this species but what produced a 

 greater bulk in the second than in the first year of its growth, 

 provided the season was equally favourable. 1 have also known 

 seed sown in April, without the intervention of a crop of corn, 

 produce a most abundant crop of hay the same year ; and some 

 sown at the same time produce seed in September. It must be 

 admitted in each case that the land was good and in high condi- 

 tion ; a crop of turnips having been previously fed off. There is 

 also a crop now growing upon land of a heavy character, well 

 drained, which was sown in February last with oats, which was not 

 only cut with the oats, but has since then produced another crop, 

 which was used for soiling the working horses upon a large farm. 

 I shall now close my remarks upon the merits of the two species 

 (except so far as an observation or two may be necessary in my 

 further remarks) with this important fact, viz. : — I have frequently 

 known the two species tested side by side, but never, within the 

 period I have recommended it should be continued in plant, an 

 instance wherein the decided superiority of the Giant species was 

 not clearly apparent ; and from others, who in different parts have 

 tested them in a similar way, I have received communications 

 giving the most unequivocal testimony of the same results attend- 

 ing their experiments. 



Having, as before stated, suffered much from a failure, or par- 

 tial failure, of the plant, I began most assiduously to inquire what 

 would be the best method to adopt, in order to ensure success in 

 this particular. And here I would acknowledge the obligations 

 I an; under to a gentleman from Berkshire, detailing the success 

 which generally attended the cultivation of Sainfoin in a crop of 

 wheat, which practice I was at first induced to adopt from such 

 recommendation, without ever satisfying myself as to the ground 

 or reason of such success. And perhaps it may not be altogether 

 uninteresting to my readers, if I briefly detail the circumstances 



