Chap. XIII. O/Luserne, 193 



Its Leaves refemble thofe of Trefoil : It bears a 

 blue BlofTom very like to double Violets, leaving a 

 Pod like a Screw, which contains the Seeds about 

 the Bignefs of broad Clover, tho' longer, and more 

 of the Kidney-fhape. 



The Stalks grow more perpendicular than any of 

 the other 4 artificial Grades that I know, (lender, full 

 of Knots and Leaves: 'Tis of very near an equal 

 Bignefs from Bottom to Top : When cut, if vigo- 

 rous, the Stalks will fpringout again from the Stubs, 

 immediately below where the Scythe parted them ; 

 which makes them the fooner ready for another 

 Mowing ; an Advantage which no other Grafs has. 



It has a Tap-root that penetrates deeper into the 

 Bowels of the Earth, than any other Vegetable fhe 

 produces. 



Tho' one Luferne-root be much more taper than 

 another towards the upper Part of it, 'tis fometimes 

 feen, that a fingle ho'd Plant of it has many of thefe 

 perpendicular Roots, fome of them fpringing ouc 

 from the very Branches of its Crown. 



Its Roots are abundantly longer than the Roots of 

 St. Foin : I have One that meafures very near Two 

 Inches Diameter : Thofe which are higher than the 

 Ground have a Bark like a Tree. Upon this account, 

 and by its Stalks fpringing again juft below the Place 

 where cutoff, and by the woody Hardnefs of its Stalks, 

 when they tland too long without cutting* it feems 

 that Luferne is of a Nature nearly approaching tothac 

 of a Shrub. 



Luferne is the only Hay in the World that can 

 pretend to excel or equal St. Foin. I have known 

 Inftances of the pinguefying Virtue of this Medlca Hay, 

 that come up to the higher!: Encomiums given it by 

 the Romans >, which being to the Vulgar incredible, 

 I forbear to relate, but leave to be confirm'd by the 

 Experience of others, when it becomes frequent in 

 England, 



O Luferne 



