182 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



tracts. Sheep should not be continually kept on Rye Grass pasture, 

 as they may become subject to fits similar to those produced by L. 

 temulentum, possibly due to ergotized or otherwise diseased Rye Grass 

 only, as many observers assert. It is one of the best grasses to 

 endure traffic on roads or paths, particularly on soil not altogether 

 light, and is also one of the few among important grasses which 

 can be sown at any season. The Italian Rye Grass is preferentially 

 chosen as an early temporary shelter for tenderer but more lasting 

 grasses on pastures thus also furnishing a good collateral return in 

 the first season. 



Lotus corniculatus, Linne. 



Bird's-foot Trefoil. Europe, North Africa/ North and Middle Asia, 

 extra tropical Australia. A deep-rooting perennial herb, readily 

 growing on pasture land, sandy links, and heathy places. This 

 plant is well deserving cultivation on light inferior soil, on which 

 it will yield a greater bulk of herbage than any of the other culti- 

 vated clovers ; it is highly nutritious and is eaten with avidity by 

 cattle and sheep. From the great depth to which its roots penetrate 

 it is not liable to be injured [by drought. It well fills out vacant 

 places between higher fodder herbs on meadows ; it is always some- 

 what saline and welcome among hay. L. tenuis, Kitaibel, is a 

 valuable variety of the coasts. The nearly allied L. major yields 

 a still greater amount of herbage ; it is particularly suited for 

 bushy and moist localities, and it attains its greatest luxuriance on 

 soils which have some peat in their composition (Lawson). In 

 Australia this lotus shows a decided predilection for wet meadows. 



Lotus tetragonolobus, Linne. 



Countries on the Mediterranean Sea. Though annual, this herb is 

 highly valued for sheep-pastures. The green pods serve as a sub- 

 stitute for asparagus. The allied L. siliquosus, Linne, is perennial, 

 and occurs in a succulent form on sea-coasts. 



Loxopterygium Lorentzii, Grisebah. 



La Plata States. The bark, called Quebracho Colorado, extensively 

 used for tanning ; latterly much exported to Europe. The length 

 of time for the tanning process with this bark is only half that of 

 oak-bark. 



Lupinus albus, Linne. 



The White Lupine. Countries on the Mediteranean Sea, also in 

 the Orient. An annual quick-growing herb, valuable for fodder 

 and for green manure. It is famed as the " Tramoso " in Portugal 

 to suppress sorrel and other obstinate weeds by its close and easy 

 growth. The lentil-like seeds, after the bitter principle (lupinin) 



