Anthyllis Vulneraria (^Lachjs Fiiifjcrs). 167 



husk and seed, and the stover has been cut into chaff for stock, 

 and proved most serviceable in a season when our straw is ex- 

 tremely short in quantity and bad in quality. We value the 

 stover at 3/. per ton, or 5/. per acre for 1 ton 14 cwt. 



To part the seed of this plant from the husk must always be a 

 troublesome job : not having a proper " cannon " for drawing the 

 seed, I have employed my own American grist-mill and steam- 

 engine for the purpose, which did the work well, but slowly, 

 for it is not easy to feed the mill fast enough. I have only got 

 7 bushels of seed in all, and it has taken 7 days to pass the husk 

 through the mill and finish off the sample for market. On two 

 of these days I used a hired " cannon," but did not get on much 

 the faster. Had it been clover-seed, the whole job would have 

 been completed in one day. 



Mr. Stebbing likewise informs me that he has much trouble 

 in preparing Anthyllis seed for market. In 1864 he grew 

 64 bushels of clean seed on 18 acres of land, and estimates the 

 cost of drawing, tScc, at 36/. 13^. 8o?., or lis. 5^d. per bushel. 

 His trouble and expense were, however, increased, because there 

 were seeds of self-sown red clover and rib-grass on the land, 

 which had to be got rid of by frequent siftings, and the smaller 

 Anthyllis seed went with them. This inferior seed was sold, 

 and the proceeds diminished the cost of drawing, 6cc., from 

 11^. bd. to 8s. 2d. per bushel on the prime seed. 



Mr. Stebbing last year thrashed with a common thrashing- 

 drum ; passed the cob twice through Holmes' chaff-riddles, 

 which he highly recommends ; then began drawing by passing 

 the cob three or four times through that same drum, then again 

 used the riddle and the fan, and on the last day finished off with 

 a hired " cannon." The motive power was provided by an 

 engine, hired at 20s. per day. This year he is using horse- 

 power, and finds it more economical to put the cob through a 

 dressing-machine, than to use riddles and fans. The work is not 

 yet complete (Feb. 19, 1866). 



It appears, then, that the yield of seed is generally small, and 

 the trouble and cost of separating it from the husk or cosh must 

 always be considerable, so that its price will generally be higher 

 than that of any other variety of the clover tribe. 



I have bought the seed direct from the grower first at Is., then 

 at Is. Qd. per lb., and am told that the price has risen as high as 

 2^. Gd. per lb. In France I believe it sells at 2 francs per lb. 

 and upwards. If, on an average, 3 bushels of seed weighing 

 70 lbs. each, and worth Is. per lb. can be grown on an acre, 

 besides 14 ton of stover (worth 4/. 10^.), the return from this crop 

 will be as good as any that thin chalky land in a dry climate 

 can produce in these times. 



