MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS. 231 



hay the same care is necessary or many of the leaves 

 will be lost. Much care must also be given the seed, 

 or it will heat and spoil. Inattention to this matter 

 is largely responsible for the many failures to secure 

 a good stand of plants. But it would also seem to 

 be true that the seed loses its germinating power 

 more quickly than the seed of many other legumes. 

 Sainfoin, like clover, is very beneficial to the soils 

 upon which it is grown. 



But little attention has been given heretofore to 

 the growing of sainfoin in this country. It is 

 scarcely mentioned in the reports of the experiment 

 stations. And yet it is not improbable that it may 

 be turned to excellent account in furnishing food for 

 live stock in some sections of the republic. The 

 author has traced its successful growth in the vicin- 

 ity of Deer Lodge, Montana. The grower prized 

 it on account of the early season at which it fur- 

 nished food. At the Ontario experiment station, at 

 Guelph, the attempts to grow it were not encourag- 

 ing. Unquestionably it ought to have a milder 

 climate. It is probable that it will grow admirably 

 in the coast states between the mountains and the 

 sea. It ought to do well in the mountain valleys 

 from central Montana southward. And there may 

 be localities in the balmy Gulf states favorable to the 

 growth of sainfoin. Beyond all question, this plant 

 is worthy of more careful experiment than it has 

 hitherto received. 



But why should the attempt be made to grow 

 sainfoin where we can grow alfalfa, or clover? For 

 the reason that there is less danger from bloating 

 with the animals pastured on sainfoin. At least it 

 has been so claimed. If this be true it invests sain- 



