THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 155 



bite too dose to the root. It should always be cut as soon as 

 the flower is formed, and also cleared of weeds. 



The second year will generally bring in an early crop, and it 

 may be cut four or five times during the season ; the ground 

 being each time weeded, or cleared, by means of a sort of 

 harrow. 



The cottager, with a small plot of ground, will do well to 

 sow lucern in rows, and cut at regular intervals a portion for 

 his cow, using the hoe for the purpose of keeping the ground 

 clear from weeds. 



Of all green fodder, both for horned cattle and horses, 

 lucern is perhaps the best. Horses fed upon it, with the 

 addition of a little corn, will keep up their strength and con- 

 dition under hard labour. Cows thrive upon it, and return a 

 full supply of milk ; but lucern must not be given to the 

 cows or oxen in too large quantities at a time, it must not 

 be given when wet with rain or dew : and the best plan is to 

 keep it for twenty-four hours after it is cut, in order that the 

 juices may be evaporated to some extent under a partial fer- 

 mentation, a process which, while it adds to the nutritive 

 qualities of the herb, renders it less liable to inflate the 

 stomach of the cattle, or, as the farmer would say, produce 

 " hoove," that is, distention of the stomach from gas. 



Lucern is not easily made into hay ; it is too succulent to 

 dry rapidly, and a shower of rain, in its half dry state, is 

 almost sure to spoil it, as the stem is quickly soaked with 

 moisture, which does not readily evaporate ; yet, in favour- 

 able seasons, a heavy crop of good hay may be obtained, the 

 produce of an acre being nearly double that of clover. 



Sainfoin (Hedysarum onobrichis) is another leguminous 

 plant of great value ; unlike lucern, however, it prefers a cal 

 careous or chalky soil to a deep, rich loam, and flourishes 

 where the latter would perish. Its root is strong and fibrous, 

 and strikes deep into the stony soil, finding moisture even in 

 the dryest seasons ; but a wet, cold, heavy subsoil is very detri 

 mental to the health of this plant, and causes the roots to 

 perish ; and, as in the case of the lucern, it decays when 

 choked up by dank weeds or grass. A crop of sainfoin on a 

 fit soil, and properly managed with occasional top-dressings of 

 ashes and manure, will last for eight or nine years, giving yearly 

 several cuttings of green fodder or two of hay. Sain- 

 foin is usually sown in the spring, in a thin crop of barley or 

 oats, the same general plan being pursued with respect to its 



