252 THE COMFREY CROP. 



L. major differs from the former by being much larger 

 in all respects, and by frequenting damp and moist places, 

 as by -the side of low-lying ditches, osier beds, &c., whereas 

 the other selects only the driest spots. This species is said 

 to yield a large quantity of good herbage, and is therefore 

 entitled to some consideration, as being suitable for culti- 

 vation in places where leguminous forage plants cannot 

 very successfully be grown. 



They both belong to the order LEGUMINOS^E, and to the 

 genus LOTUS ; and although only cultivated in this country 

 to a very limited extent, and then always in mixture with 

 other seeds for permanent pastures, they are met with in 

 different parts of the Continent forming a distinct and 

 separate cultivation. There are several other species indi- 

 genous to different countries, and met with in the natural 

 grass lands or waste places. These, however, are chiefly 

 of annual growth only. Although but little attention has 

 been bestowed upon any of them, either abroad or at 

 home, they no doubt possess feeding properties fully equal 

 to our other forage plants, and from the manner in which 

 the plants met with in our fields are always kept cropped 

 down both by sheep and cattle, there is but little doubt 

 that they are much relished by stock of all sorts. 



THE COMFKEY. 



The last plant that we have to refer to in this section of 

 our subject is the SYMPHYTUM/ or COMFREY, a plant 

 belonging to the order BoRAGiNE^E, and differing in every 

 respect from either of those which have preceded it. The 

 -Symphytum officinale, or Common Comfrey, is a hardy 

 perennial plant, found growing wild in wet places, by the 

 side of ditches and sluggish streams. It has a long black 

 root, from which rise winged, hairy, rough stems, 3 feet 



1 From <rv[jt.$'jtt, to unite, and quTov, a plant. . 



