334 OFTHECULTURE . Part III. 



:perly call \\. faint foyn, and frequently French grafs, becaufe we owe 

 our firft knowledge of it to the French. 



If this plant is cultivated according to the new hufbandry, its 

 flalks will grov/ to the length of five feet; and, according to Mr. 

 Tuil, one acre of fainfoin will yield as much grafs as 30 or 40 acres 

 of common grafs. 



This great fruitfulnefs of fainfoin, is owing to the vail: quantity 

 of its roots. Its tap-root pierces fometimes fifteen or twenty feet 

 deep into the earth, and fends forth many lateral branches, which ex- 

 tend a great v/ay, efpecially towards the furface of a good foil. 



It is wrong to think, as many do, that fainfoin will not fucceed 

 if there is not at a certain depth a bed of gravel, flone, or chalk, 

 to flop the progrefs of its roots. On the contrary, the deeper the 

 earth is, the more its roots extend, and the Wronger and more 

 flourifliing is the plant. 



As fome of its feed will frequently not grow, a fmall quantity 

 fliould always be fown firft, to try it, as has been diredled in regard 

 to wheat. 



This plant ought not to be fown above half an inch deep, efpe- 

 cially in ftiff lands : for the heads of thefe feeds are lb large, and 

 their necks fo weak, that if they lie much more than half an inch 

 deep, they are not able to rife through the incumbent mould. 



As fainfoin yields but an inconfiderable produce the firft years, 

 the farmer, in order to make the more of his land, often fows bar- 

 ley, oats, clover, &c. with it. The barley and oats remaining but 

 a fliort time on the earth, damage the fainfoin but little : but clover, 

 and other perennial plants, do it great hurt. 



In dry years, it frequently happens that when the barley or oats 

 are mowed, no fainfoin yet appears. But on examining nearly, we 

 generally perceive white threads, which fliew that the fainfoin has 

 fprouted; but its leaves, which were very fmall, have been cut off 

 by the mowers. 



If the other feeds fown with the fainfoin, come up thick, and 

 grow a-pace, and efpecially if they are lodged, the fainfoin is gene- 

 rally choaked. This feldom happens if it is fown with the drill- 

 plough : for as it is then drilled by itfelf, in feparate rows, it is lefs 

 in danger of being choaked by any other plants. It certainly does 

 beft when fown quite alone. 



When Mr. Tull began to cultivate fainfoin according to his me- 

 thod, he fowed two gallons of feed to an acre. But almoft all the 



feed 



