HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 393 



it is inferior in nutritient qualities. The long continuance of 

 lucern in the soil is therefore the chief advantage it possesses over 

 this plant; however, when that, or depasturing, is particularly 

 desired, the broad-leaved clover and lucern are greatly superior. 



The value of the herbage of sainfoin is equal to that of the broad- 

 leaved clover, and proportionally less than that of the long-rooted 

 clover, as 10 to 11. The weight of crop being comparatively small 

 on a soil of the nature above described, it is doubtless inferior. 

 On dry hilly situations, and chalky soils, however, it may be their 

 superior in every respect, on account of its valuable herbage. 



The white or Siberian melilot, which appears to be only a variety 

 of the long-rooted clover, was cultivated by Arthur Young, Esq., 

 as he informs us in his " Annals of Agriculture." The produce, 

 by drilling on a moist loam, with a cold marshy bottom, was seven 

 and a half tons per acre. It was given to horses, working-oxen, 

 and calves, and they ate it very readily, some even greedily. 



From the foregoing details it is evident the long-rooted clover 

 should be cut at the time of flowering. It can only be locally 

 useful, as in instances where it is desirable to have the land ready 

 to plough up before the beginning of August. 



It flowers about the first week of July, and the seed is ripe in 

 August. 



TR1FOLIUM melilotus officinalis. Melilot Trefoil, Common 

 Melilot, King's Clover, Hart's Clover. 



Specific character: Legumes racemed, naked, two-seeded, 

 wrinkled, acute ; stem erect. (Martyn). Hort. Gram. Fol. 

 293. 



Obs. This is very nearly allied to the long-rooted clover. The 

 root, however, appears to be strictly annual. The lower leaves 

 are oblong wedge-shaped ; the upper ones elliptical, they are 

 more serrate, and smaller in every respect than those of the 

 long-rooted clover. The flowers are smaller, and more droop- 

 ing. The legume contains often more than two seeds, which 

 is seldom, or, according to my experience, never the case in 

 the long-rooted clover. 



Native of Britain. Root annual. 



Experiments. At the time of flowering, the produce from a 

 clayey loam is 



