162 AntlnjUis Vulneraria {Ladys Fingers), 



and, as the corolla, or more conspicuous part of each flower dies 

 away, the hairy whitish calyx expands and becomes more con- 

 spicuous. This downy calyx (which is especially seen when 

 the plant is grown in poor soils), and the downy aspect of the 

 whole herbage would at first sight indicate that the Anthyllis is 

 too dry and sapless to be relished as cattle-food. 



In 1862, when my attention was called to this plant as being 

 reported to yield a large crop of hay and green food, possessing 

 " extra good qualities," upon exceedingly poor soils, namely, 

 sandy chalk, and " without any manure," this peculiarity in its 

 appearance made me hesitate, and express in print * " some 

 doubt about the good qualities in a feeding point of view of 

 plants that can be grown on next to nothing," as such produce is 

 usually found to be Avhat the farmers term " without proof," a 

 most expressive phrase, meaning " of a low feeding value." The 

 soil accompanying the specimen sent to us was light and sandy 

 in the extreme. Still " it must be conceded that the Anthyllis 

 Vulneraria belongs to the same great natural order as the clovers 

 and saintfoin, though, unlike them, its tap-root has by no means 

 the same long penetrating character. It is, then, just possible 

 that manure may much improve its qualities, and probably its 

 yield, but it will be by producing a new variety (as the result of 

 cultivative processes) that will be able to bear better with riches 

 than with poverty." 



The hay, of which a specimen was then sent, seemed from the 

 extraordinary hairiness of its enlarged calyx, to offer but a poor 

 choking diet for any kind of animal ; this characteristic, as in 

 hairy grasses, being a sign of want of flavour and quality no less 

 than a mechanical impediment to such fodder being made 

 the most of. I concluded, however, by remarking that plants 

 quite hairy in the wild state lose that condition on cultivation ; 

 as examples we may give parsnips, and even the broad-leaved 

 clovers. In these and in other plants which might be adduced 

 the advance of smoothness and succulency is concurrent with 

 improvement in produce as well as in feeding value. Again, 

 in speaking of this hairiness of the foliage, and indeed the whole 

 plant, I further directed attention to the fact that the specific 

 name, vulneraria, is derived from its reputed efficacy in staunch- 

 ing blood and healing wounds ; and as it has no astringent 

 qualities, suggested that its property of stopping bleeding may 

 have been due to its soft hairy qualities ; so that any virtue it 

 may possess in this way may only be found in the wild plant. 



Having, then, stated these opinions in 1862, on establishing 

 an experimental garden at Bradford Abbas, in 1864, it was 



* See 'Agricultural Gazette' for December 13, 1862, No. 60. 



