152 THE LUPINE CROP. 



may take place somewhat earlier, about the end of April, 

 and the crop be fed off on the land in the manner described 

 at page 229, vol. i., in reference to the bean crop. 



Being an annual, the lupine is well suited for a rotation 

 plant as a substitute for clover, for instance on our 

 light, sandy soils. It is rather delicate, and should not be 

 sown until the period of spring frosts has passed, as one 

 night's frost would effectually destroy it. One bushel of 

 seed is quite sufficient for an acre, which should always 

 be drilled in rows from 15 to 18 inches apart, so that the 

 hoe may be freely used during their growth, which is the 

 only attention they require. The growth of the crop is 

 extremely rapid. In about ten weeks, if the weather be 

 genial, they are usually in flower, when, if used for forage 

 purposes, they should be cut and consumed as speedily 

 as possible, as after that process has commenced their 

 feeding properties diminish, and they begin to exhaust 

 the soil. The leaves and stems, although less nutritive 

 than the seed-pods, are more relished by sheep and cattle, 

 the seed-pods being bitter in taste and generally at first 

 refused by them. 



If intended for hay, the crop should be cut at the same 

 period of its growth, and the same precautions should be 

 taken as already recommended for clover. For all " soil- 

 ing" and hay purposes the yellow species would appear, 

 from the accounts given, to be better adapted than either 

 the blue or the white. For seed purposes, however, the 

 blue is recommended as being a larger cropper; in this 

 case, the crop should be got in as early as possible ; when 

 its growth is about half completed it may be cut for 

 forage, and then allowed to stand for seed, care being 

 taken that the seeding is not delayed too late for the pro- 

 duce to mature properly in the field. It is cut and treated 

 in every respect like beans, and should be ready for har- 

 vesting by the first or second week in August. 



