Cultivation of Arable Land. Lucern Soils proper for, 573 



of (lock, but of good green feed for the latter part of autumn, in foils that arc 

 adapted to its culture, as it is capable of affording a large produce, even on thofe 

 thin poor defcriptions of land that under other circumftances yield only a very 

 fcanty product cither in herbage or hay. And in fuch as are of the better and more 

 fertile kinds the quantity of crop is incomparably abundant. Its culture ought, 

 therefore, to be extended to all thofe extenfive tracts of land in different parts of 

 the kingdom that afford little or nothing under other fyflcms of hufbandry or 

 modes of cropping, and which are not adapted to the growth of clovers. This is 

 particularly deferable, as it is an artificial grafs that fucceeds well in the ordinary 

 methods of fowing, without the trouble or expenfe of either the drill or the hoc. 

 It fcems extremely probable, from different trials that have been made with this 

 plant, that it is not by any means fo confined in refpect to foil as has been 

 generally fuppofed,* though there can be little doubt but that it anfwers belt on 

 thofe of the calcareous dry loamy kinds. On fuch as have had occafionally ap 

 plications of lime it has been known to fucceed in a perfect manner. t 



The fituations that are the mofl unfriendly to the growth of this grafs are thofe 

 where there is much ftagnant moifture in the foils, or where they are wet and fpungy ; 

 a confiderable degree of drynefs being effentiai to the healthy vegetation of the 

 faintfoin plant.J 



The principal inconvenience which crops of this fort fuftain is from the rifing 

 of coarfe graffes, and weeds of different kinds, as it is thefe that, in a great meafure, 

 limit the duration of the plants, and not that of their age : the advantage of a pro 

 per and clean preparation of the land previous to its being fown is therefore fuf- 

 iiciently evident. Where, notwithstanding every precaution, fuch graffes come 

 up fo as to injure the faintfoin, harrowing has been had recourfe to with fuccefs, 

 xvhen performed to fuch a degree as to leave the furface of the land in nearly the 

 flate of fallow. 



Lucern.^ This is another plant of the artificial grafs kind, that may in fome 

 cafes be cultivated with much profit and advantage, as affording a large produce 

 of fucculent green food, for the fupport of different forts of flock, and likewife of 

 hay for the winter fodder of horfcs or other cattle. 



The foils mofl fuitable to the culture of this plant are all thofe of the more deep, 

 rich, and drier kinds, as thofe of the found, mellow, loamy, gravelly and fandy def- 



* Young s Eaftern Tour, vol. IV. t Marshall s Rural Economy of the Southern Counties* 



^&quot;O 



t Young s Eaftern Tour, vol. IV. &amp;gt; Ibid. fl Medicago satha. 



