Chap. VIII. OF S A I N-F O I N. 337 



do on almoft any land ; and though it fucceeds bell in good foils, yet 

 it will grow even on diy barren Ipots, where fcarce any other grafs 

 can live, provided the roots are not chilled by a cold clay, or other 

 fubftance retaining water. 



Sainfoin has this farther advantage, that it may be mowed at dif- 

 ferent degrees of ripenefs, with nearly the fame profit. 



1. It may be mowed before it is in bloom. It is then an ad- 

 mirable food for horned cattle ; and when cut thtjs early, it yields a 

 fecond crop, which makes ample amends for what was loit by not 

 letting the firft come to its full growth. This early cutting is 

 attended with another advantage ; viz. that in the beginning of the 

 fummer it proves very beneficial to cattle by purging them, which 

 frees them from diforders arifing from the winter's cold, or dry 

 food. 



2. If the weather be rainy, the fainfoin may be left ftanding till 

 it is in bloom. It is ftill excellent fodder for cows. But care muft 

 be taken in making it into hay, that the flowers do not drop oft-', 

 which they are very apt to do : for cattle are {o fond of the flowers, 

 that thefe often induce them to eat the reft of the plant. 



3. If the rain continues, the fainfoin may continue ftanding till 

 fome of its feeds are formed. The crop will then be more plenti- 

 ful : not only becaufe it will have attained its full growth, but like- 

 wife becaufe its leaves, being more fubftantial, diminilh lefs in dry- 

 ing. 'Tis true, it is not then fo pleafant for fodder : but horfes 

 eat it readily, becaufe they love to feel between their teeth the feeds 

 which now begin to be formed. 



Mr. Tull fays this fodder is fo excellent, that horfes need no oats 

 when they are fed with it. He affirms that he kept a team of 

 horfes with it a whole year in good plight, without giving them 

 any oats, tho' they were worked hard all the time. He adds, that 

 he fattened fheep with it, in lefs time than others which were fed 

 with corn. But the hay of this plant can never be fo good as when 

 it is cultivated with the horfe-hoe : for in the common hufbandry, 

 it bloffoms almoft as foon as it is out of the ground. 



4^ If the feafon continues rainy, it would be ftill more advifeable 

 to let the fainfoin ftand, than to run the rifque of having it rot upon 

 the ground : for then the feed will ripen, and nearly make up for the 

 lofs of the fodder : not only becaufe that feed may be carried to 

 market j but likewife becaufe two bufhels of it will go as far in 



X X feed- 



