IIORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBU RN E N S IS, 267 



Experini:iils. — At the time of flowering, tlic produce 

 from a clayey loam is 37,434 lbs. per acre. 



Horses and sheep are said to eat this clover, as are also 

 cows, goats, and swine. Dr. Withering says, that water 

 distilled from the flowers possesses but little odour in itself, 

 but improves the flavour of other substances. It does not 

 appear to have been cultivated in England. Professor 

 Martyn observes, that there cannot be a worse weed among 

 bread-corn ; for a few of the seeds ground with it, spoil the 

 flour, by communicating the peculiarly strong taste of the 

 plant : notwithstanding this, horses are said to be extremely 

 fond of it. Some Italian writers call it Trifoliiiiii ca- 

 balUum. 



From the above details, it is very much inferior to the 

 long-rooted clover, and cannot be put to any use for which 

 that species is not equally good or superior : it grows chiefly 

 in clayey soils. In very exposed situations it attains only to 

 a small size ; while in such as are uiuch sheltered, I have 

 found it exceeding six feet in height. 



It ripens an abundance of seed. Flowers in the third or 

 last week of June. 



VICIA cracca. Tufted Vetch. 



Specific character: Peduncles many-flowered ; flowers im- 

 bricate ; leaflets lanceolate, pubescent; stipules half 

 arrow-shaped, mostly entire. 



Obs. — Root creeping, perennial. Stems quadrangular, 

 weak, striated, attaining a great height when growino- 

 in hedges. Branches alternate from the axils of the 

 upper leaves. Leaves alternate, consisting of from 

 eight to twelve pair of leaflets, and terminated by a 

 long branched and curling tendril. Leaflets oltener 

 alternate than opposite, more or less hoary on both 

 sides, with silky hairs, commonly rounded at the end, 

 and terminated by a short point. Flowers of a pur[)le 

 or violet bluish colour. Leoume half an inch lono- 

 contaniing four or five globular seeds, the size of a 

 lentil. 



Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce 



