144 EXPERIMENTS WITH ROOTS AND FORAGE CROPS 



ing organic matter. It naturally follows that when the crop 

 has been turned under and as soon as decomposition begins to 

 set in, another crop should be planted, in order to derive all the 

 benefits from it. 



SERADELLA (^OrnitJiopus sativus) 



This is a leguminous crop adapted to both forage and green 

 manuring. It did not make a strong enough growth when sown 

 by itself to ensure a crop. We have not tested it with a pro- 

 tective crop, but think it may have value when handled as ordi- 

 nary red clover. It does best like the lupine on sandy soils, 

 but does not contain the objectionable alkaloid ingredient found 

 in the lupine. 



SAINFOIN {Onobrychis sativa) 



The claims for this plant are that it can be grown on dry 

 and calcareous soils which are too barren for clovers. It is 

 said not to thrive upon low, wet, or marshy land. Mr. Jared G. 

 Smith writes: "There is no better plant for growing on barren 

 hills, but it does better on tjie sunny slopes than those facing 

 north. It is difficult to establish, as the plants are easily killed 

 when young, but when well-rooted, sainfoin will live from 

 twenty to twenty-five years, or sometimes a hundred years, pro- 

 vided the soil is rich enough." 



In Europe one crop a year is cut which averages about the 

 same as our ordinary hay crop. The actual food value of sain- 

 foin is higher than that of clover. The crop is not adapted for 

 pasturing, as it is said not to have the recuperative quality of 

 the clovers. Like many of the legumes it is deep-rooting and 

 also is a perennial. Our plot was very backward and hard to 

 establish. The seed doubtless was old as but a small per- 

 centage germinated. The seed loses its vitality readily, and 

 should be fresh, if possible, each year. Eighty pounds per acre 

 are recommended for a sowing of unshelled and forty pounds of 

 shelled seed, and it should be covered deeply to ensure germi- 

 nation. The seed is sown in early spring and the crop is har- 

 vested when in blossom. Our soil does not seem to be adapted 

 to it, but doubtless there is land in the state where it could be 



