EARLY HISTORY, AND BOTANY OF 137 



Scotland, where the climate is more suitable to other 

 leguminous forage plants the vetch, for instance it is 

 extensively grown in all southern climates in parts of 

 France, Italy, Spain, in South America, Peru, in India, 

 Persia, &c. In the Channel Islands it may be seen in 

 fall vigour of growth, equalling the descriptions given of 

 its produce by the old Roman authors. 



Botanically, lucerne belongs to the order Leguminosce, 

 and constitutes the distinct genus Medicago, of which there 

 are several species, though 

 only two or three enter into 

 cultivation in this country. 

 Of these the most important is 

 the Medicago sativa Com- 

 mon Lucerne (see woodcut) 

 an erect - growing perennial 

 plant, sending down its roots 

 to a great depth in a suitable 

 soil. The flowers are in ra- 

 cemes or clusters, and of a pur- 

 plish-blue colour appearing 

 in June and July, when the 

 plant reaches a height of about 

 3 feet. Under proper manage- 

 ment, and in a suitable soil 

 and climate, the produce is 

 very great, and, owing to its 



. -i ,,.. MEDICAGO SATIVA Common Lucerne. 



perennial habit, the annual 



outlay for labour is proportionally small. It is never 

 advisable to cut the crop the first year: in the succeeding 

 season it generally yields a good bulky crop ; but it does 

 not arrive at full maturity until the third year, after 

 which it will sustain its full vigour of growth for six or 

 seven years more, when the roots begin to show symptoms 

 of decay, and the vigorous habit of the plant declines. 

 VOL. II. 42 



