20 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



that is given by the common clover. It gives abundance of 

 seed ; and, says G. Sinclair, if the ground be kept free of 

 weeds, it sows itself, vegetates, and grows rapidly, without 

 covering in, or any operation whatever. Four years it has 

 propagated itself in this manner on the space of ground 

 which it now occupies, and from which this statement of its 

 comparative value is made. This species would, no doubt, 

 prove a valuable acquisition to our husbandry, whether wo 

 consider its value for green food, hay, or as a green crop to 

 be turned in preparatory to grain. 



Sai?i Foin is peculiarly adapted to a calcareous or chalky 

 soil. It is true it is cultivated in Norfolk, England, which 

 is a soil of sand and loam, naturally destitute of calcareous 

 matter. But it is common there to drefc:s their lands with 

 clay marl, which abounds with carbonate of lime; without 

 which dressing, says Young, Norfolk soils will not grow 

 sain foin. This writer considers it ' one of the most valua- 

 ble plants that were ever introduced into the agriculture of 

 Great Britain.' The well-known Mr. Coke cultivates four 

 hundred acres of this grass, and sows it without other seeds. 

 Several attempts have been made to cultivate sain foin in 

 this country, but hitherto I believe without success."^ 



Timothy. This grass is distinguished in Great Britain 

 by the name of 'meadoio cafs-tail ; in New England by 

 that of herd's grass. It is one of the most valuable grasses 

 that are cultivated ; and, what is worthy the notice of every 

 farmer, it affords more than double the nutriment when cut 

 in the seed to what it does in the flower. In tenacious, 

 strong, and moist soils it is entitled to a precedence, perhaps, 

 to any single grass for hay, yet does not seem to be suitable 

 to mix with clover seeds when intended for meadow. An- 

 other consideration, which renders it particularly worthy of 

 attention, is the seed which it affords, and which may be 

 saved without materially diminishing the hay crop. From 

 ten to thirty bushels of seed may be taken from an acre of 

 timothy, which, at the price it now bears, is of itself a hand- 

 some remuneration. 



Fiorin has of late years been brought into notice in 

 Great Britain, by the experiments of Dr. Richardson ; who 

 particularly recommended it for the cold boggy soils of the 



* Sain foin may be considered as out of the question in New England. 

 So large a portion is wi"ter-killed that it is not worth cultivation. This 

 is affirmed on the strength of repeated trials. 



