304 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XXV. 



extremely difficult to eradicate it from the land ; and it lias been found to 

 materially impoverish the soil*. 



CORN SPURREY 



Is scarcely known in this country in any other light than as a noxious 

 weed, though in the sandy soils of Flanders it is very generally sown as a 

 brush-crop, after wheat, and is there held to form an early and valuable 

 pasture for cows, but the cultivated species differs essentially from that 

 which is grown wild. There are, indeed, two different sorts — one growing 

 tall and thin, and the other short and thick, and by mixing the seeds the 

 best crops have been obtained. 



It is always sown broadcast upon a single ploughing, or often by merely 

 passing the scufllers over the stubble, at the rate of about 8 lbs. of seed 

 per acre, after which it is rolled, and it is usually fit to be either cut green, 

 or pastured, within five or six weeks after it has been sown. The produce, 

 of course, varies according to the richness of the soil, and also depends 

 much on the temperature of the season, for it requires both heat and 

 moisture ; it may, however, be generally calculated at about half the amount 

 of a crop of clover, but the quality is said to be more nutritive. If the 

 weather be favourable, it can be easily made into hay ; and if allowed to 

 stand for seed, the haulm is considered more nourishing than any other 

 kind of straw ; but the hay shrinks considerably, and, upon the whole, it 

 is found more advantageous to consume it green. It is, therefore, usually 

 fed off by milch cows tethered upon it, or soiled in their stalls. 



The grain is of an oily nature, and is also extremely nutritive. AVhen 

 given to cattle it is steeped in hot water, and served as a mash alone, or 

 mixed with cut straw, and has a visible effect in increasing the quantity and 

 richness of the milk, as well as improving the condition of all animals fed 

 upon it. The produce of grain is also large, but when allowed to stand for 

 seed, it has been found to greatly exhaust the soil. Its greatest value ap- 

 pears, therefore, to arise from its short duration allowing it to take an 

 intermediate place between the harvest and the spring sowing; from its 

 producing a certain quantity of provender without manure ; and with 

 but little expense of labour f. 



Chapter XXV. 



ON ARTIFICIAL GRASSES— (conlinued). 



SAINFOIN AND LUCERNE. 



Although the plants of which we have now to treat are used for the same 

 purpose as the grasses already described, yet those, if not actually annuals, 

 arc more frequently employed for the growth of only one season, while 

 these are perennials which last for several years in the ground ; we there- 

 fore deem it advisable to detail their properties in separate chapters. 



SAINFOIN 



is a plant of which a great number of species are enumerated by botanists, 

 though only one is generally known to farmers. It is a very valuable 



* Von Thaer, Princ. Rais. d'Agric, 2nde edit. torn. iv. p. 322. 



t Idem, torn. iv. J 1346 to 1353. Radcliff, on the Agriculture of East and West 

 Flanders, § 140. 



