434 On Grass Land. 



beginning of March ; for, in dry weather, it does not ve- 

 getate. When in its infantine state, it is apt to be destroyed 

 by the fly ( 377 ). 



Sainfoin is in general sown without being mixed with 

 other grasses, though a small proportion of white clover is 

 considered to be rather beneficial than otherwise ( 378 ). It 

 may be disputed, whether sainfoin is equal to clover, on rich 

 soils, but its great value is, that it produces an abundant 

 crop, where clover will not succeed. 



5. Lucern. 



This valuable grass, to reap the full benefit of its great 

 merits, requires a dry, deep and rich soil, which must be 

 thoroughly cleansed, by two or three previous green crops 

 of tares, turnips, or cabbages. It may be sown either 

 broad-cast, which is the usual method, or drilled, nine 

 inches apart, between rows of barley equally distant. It 

 is better to sow it with barley, or oats, thinly seeded, 

 both on account of the profit of the crop, and as the grain 

 furnishes some protection to the plant from the attacks of 

 the fly, which does great injury to it when very young. If 

 drilled, from 12 Ib. to 15 Ib. of seed per acre will do ; if sown 

 broad-cast, not less than 20 Ib. will be necessary. It some- 

 times affords cutting four times a-year, but will generally 

 yield three good cuttings in the season. Lucern is much su- 

 perior to clover for soiling milch- cows, giving no taste to the 

 milk or butter, and one acre is sufficient for three or four 

 cows during the soiling season. In rich land, a quarter of an 

 acre per head, will be sufficient for all sorts of large cattle, 

 taken one with another, but on moderate soils, half an acre 

 is the proper allowance. Lucern requires to be kept thorough- 

 ly clean, by hand-hoeing, and scarifying between the drills. 

 All other grasses in the rows should be carefully plucked 

 out( 379 ). If the third kind of land kept in permanent pas- 

 ture, (the deep-soiled vale land), would answer for lucern, 

 as there is every reason to believe it would, what a treasure 

 there is at the command of the possessors of such soils ? In 

 proof of which, it is to be remarked, that in the island of 

 Jersey, since the superior importance of lucern has been as- 

 certained, grass land, of a good staple, has been often de- 

 dicated to the culture of 'that plant. It is trenched by the 

 spade, which is an expensive process, but that is fully 

 counterbalanced, by the certainty of success, the early ma- 



