SUITABLE CLASS OF SOILS. ] 39 



small and of a bright yellow colour ; the seed-pods closely, 

 spirally twisted, with sharp curved spines thickly arranged 

 on their exterior margin, so as to form round-shaped bristly 

 balls, slightly flattened at the ends. 



Medicago falcata Yellow Lucerne is a favourite 

 species in Switzerland, some parts of Germany, and in the 

 more mountainous districts of France. This species differs 

 from the " sativa" principally in three particular char- 

 acteristics, viz., in being of a more strong or more woody 

 upright habit of growth in the colour of its flowers, which 

 is bright yellow instead of purple and in its pods, which 

 are only bent or sickle-shaped, instead of being spirally 

 twisted, like those of the common lucerne. The only point 

 of superiority which it possesses is its suitability for culti- 

 vation on inferior soils. Under equally favourable condi- 

 tions of growth, it is neither so productive as the common 

 species, nor so valuable as a forage plant for cattle, owing 

 to its coarse and woody habit of growth. 



Lucerne is more particular in its choice of soils than 

 most of the preceding crops. It delights in soils of a deep, 

 dry character, in which its tap-root can penetrate low 

 down into the subsoil, and find its necessary supplies of 

 food and moisture. This class of soils would naturally be 

 of a light description: vegetable moulds, sandy loams, 

 and even gravels, will carry good crops, especially if a 

 moderate proportion of lime be present, without which 

 none of the leguminous plants will thrive. Probably the 

 best description of soils for the crop are the calcareous 

 loams; for instance, w^here the green -sand formation 

 comes in contact and is mixed up with' the marls of the 

 lower chalk. Here we find all the desirable conditions 

 for the development of the plant: the soils are deep, 

 dry, sufficiently free-working, and contain a good per- 

 centage of lime, besides the other fertilizing substances 

 always met with, in greater or lesser proportions, in marls. 



