124 



AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



and hoe, carefully pulling out by hand any that may be 

 found in the drills. It may be lightly cropped the first year, 

 and more freely the second, but it does not attain full maturi- 

 ty till the third. The roots strike deep into the ground, and 

 being a perennial, it requires no renewal except from the 

 loss of the plants by casualties. It should be cut before 

 growing too large, and cured like clover. 



Liquid manure is good for it, as are also gypsum and ashes. 

 Barn-yard manure is occasionally necessary ; but to avoid 

 weeds, it must be thoroughly fermented to destroy the seeds. 

 It is sometimes sown broadcast, but the rapid progress of 

 weeds and grass in the soil, will soon extirpate it if they are 

 suffered to grow ; and there is no means of effectually eradi- 

 cating them but by cultivating the iucern in drills, and the 

 hoe and cultivator can then keep the weeds in subjection. It 

 is one of the most desirable plants for soiling. From the care 

 and attention required, the cultivation of Iucern is properly 

 limited to an advanced state of agriculture and a dense 

 population, where labor is cheap and products high. In 

 the neighborhood of large cities, it may be advantageously 

 grown, and in all places where soiling is practiced. 



SAN-FOIN (Hedysarum onobrychis, Fig. 30), the esparcette 

 of the French, is a native of the chalk 

 soils of Europe, and is best adapted 

 to strong calcareous lands. On such, 

 it is a profitable herbage, as the roots 

 penetrate to a great depth, and yield 

 large burdens of nutritious fodder. 

 It will also grow successfully in deep 

 garden molds. Though often at- 

 tempted, we are not aware that it has 

 been raised to any extent in this coun- 

 try. 



BOKHARA OR SWEET-SCENTED CLO- 

 VER (Melilotus major) is a tall, shrub- 

 like plant, growing to the height of 

 four to six feet with branches, whose 

 extremities bear numerous small white 

 flowers of great fragrance. "When full grown, it is too 

 coarse for forage, but if thick and cut young, it yields a pro- 

 fusion of green or winter fodder. It should be sown in the 

 spring, with about two pounds of seed per acre, in drills 16 

 to 20 inches apart. It must be kept clear of weeds and cul- 

 tivated like Iucern It requires a rich, mellow, loamy soil. 



FIG. 



