104 XrCERNE. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



LUCERXE. 



Medicago Sativa — Specific Character. 



Upriglit, smooth, perrennial, leaflets obovate, ob- 

 long, toothed ; flowers (purple) racemed ; pods spir- 

 ally twisted. Cultivated for green fodder, rarely 

 spontaneous. Flowers in July and ripens seeds in 

 August. 



Wat's Analysis 



100 parts as taken green from the field May 16th. 



Water 69.65 



Albuminous or flesh forming principles 3.83 



Fatty matters - -82 



Heat producing principles, starch, sugar, gum, etc 13.62 



Woody fibre 8.74 



Mineral matter or Ash 3.04 



100.00 

 100 parts of the grass dried at 212*^ Fahr. 



Albuminous or flesh forming principles 12.96 



Fatty matters 2.76 



Heat producing principles, starch, sugar, gum, etc 40.16 



Woody fibre.. 34.21 



Mineral matter or Ash. 10.11 



100.00 

 Lucerne was introduced into British husbandry 

 about the middle of the 17th century, and has ever 

 since been cultivated successfully in the British Isles. 

 It stiU continues a favorite plant for soiling purposes. 

 It may be sown broadcast, drilled or transplanted, 

 all of which methods have been successfully prac- 

 ticed. The proper time for sowing in England is 

 toward the middle or end of March, or not later than 

 April, because like the turnip, Lucerne is subject to 



