336 OF THE CULTURE Part 11, 



beft way is to fow it in two parallel rows, eight inches diftant from 

 each other, and to make the alleys forty inches wide j fo that from 

 the middle of one furrow, to the middle of another, fhall be four 

 feet. 



■ 2. If fainfoin is fown with an intention only to hand-hoe it, there 

 fliould be a fpace of {ixteen inches between each row, and the plants 

 in the rows Ihould be at leaft eight inches afunder. 



3. When fainfoin is fown without any intention of hoeing it, the 

 befl way is to drill the rows eight inches afunder, with no greater 

 quantity of feed, than when they are at fixteen inches diftance : for 

 each plant ought to have a fufficient fpace round it, to extend its 

 roots in, and draw its neceffary nourifliment from, without hurting 

 its nelgbouring plants. 



Sainfoin thrives beft in rich, dry, light foils, and efpecially if 

 there is a bed of chalk, lime-flone, or gravel, under a coniiderable 

 depth of mould. In marlliy grounds, or in lands which retain wa- 

 ter, the roots are chilled, and the plant foon perifhes. 



Tho' fainfoin is a ftrong plant, the ground where it is fown ought 

 to be in very fine tilth : for as it immediately flioots out great num- 

 bers of roots as foon as it Iprouts, the mould ought to be loofe, and 

 the flaple as deep as poflible. 



Sainfoin may be fowed at any time : but when it is fown in au- 

 tumn, the young plants are in danger of being hurt by frofts : if it 

 is fown in fummer, it frequently happens that the feed remains long 

 in the earth without fprouting : or if it rifes, the drought, ufual at 

 that feafon, ftints the young plants. The fpring is therefore the 

 moft proper feafon for fowing it, when there is no longer any dan- 

 ger of hard frofls. 



By means of the drill-plough, the feed of the fainfoin is dropt 

 into channelb which this inftrumerit makes, and is at the fame time 

 covered with the proper depth of earth. 



It will not be neceflary to horfe-hoe the alleys between the beds 

 of fainfoin, fo often as between thofe of corn. It will be fufficient 

 to horfe-hoe the alternate alleys once a year. By this means, one 

 half of the alleys will be refted each year, on which the hay may be 

 made. Thus the expence will be but trifling, and the fainfoin may 

 laft thirty years on the fame ground,which, by this frequent ftirring, 

 will be the better prepared to receive other grains after the fain-foin. 



Sainfoin deferves the utmoft attention of the farmer, as being 

 certainly one of the moft profitable plants he can cultivate. It will 



do 



