On Grass Land. 433 



3. Crimson Clover. 



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It is a subject of astonishment, that this valuable plant, 

 (the trifolium incarnatum], should not have been long ago in- 

 troduced into this country, and cultivated on an extensive 

 scale. If sown in autumn, after a crop of potatoes or other 

 roots, it produces next spring, a crop fit to be. cut for soil- 

 ing cattle, eight days earlier than lucern, and a fortnight 

 before red clover. Care however must be taken, to have 

 good seed, and not to sow it too deep. It produces two 

 excellent crops in one year, the first of which should be cut, 

 as soon as it comes into flower, and the second will pro- 

 duce a considerable quantity of seed. From its early growth 

 in spring, when other articles for feeding stock with advan- 

 tage are so difficult to be obtained, it is likely to become a 

 valuable acquisition to British husbandry ( 37 ). 



It is objected to crimson clover, that it is only an annual 

 plant, that it is apt to be injured by frost, and that in damp 

 clayey soils, it frequently perishes in the winter season, 

 when sown in autumn. It is however, well worth trying, 

 on light soils in the mild climates of Devonshire and Somer- 

 set, also in the western counties of Ireland, and in the He- 

 brides, or Western Islands of Scotland, where frost is seldom 

 injurious. 



4. Sainfoin. 



The improvement made by the culture of sainfoin, is very 

 great. Poor soils, not worth more than from 2s. 6d. to 

 5s. per acre, for any other purpose, will, under this crop, 

 yield from a ton and a half, to two tons and a half, of valuable 

 hay, worth a guinea per ton more than meadow hay equally 

 well cured ; besides a considerable quantity of after-grass. 

 It also lasts in the ground, equally productive, for a num- 

 ber of years. 



It is unfortunate that so useful a plant, is not more ex- 

 tensively cultivated. The general idea is, that it will only 

 succeed in chalky soils, or on lands resting on limestone; 

 but it would probably thrive on other soils, if they were 

 manured with a large quantity of calcareous matter ; more 

 especially on dry and shallow uplands, with a loose stony 

 subsoil. The land ought to be in good order, thoroughly 

 cleared of weeds before the seed is sown, and the accom- 

 panying crops should be barley or buck-wheat. An early 

 seed-time ought to be preferred, as the end of February, or 



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