Kidne,y Vetch and Yarrow. 107 



pasture to be left out. It is very hardy, but grows little 

 in a drought. 



I now proceed to remark, lastly, on various plants 

 which may be usefully added t6 grass and clover 

 mixtures. 



Chicory and bumet, having been fully treated in 

 what I have written previously (vide Chapters IV. and 

 VI.) require no notice here. 



Kidney Vetch, or Yellow Sand Clover {Anthyllis 

 vulneraria). — This is a very valuable plant, and of 

 supreme importance in a severe drought. In 1899 there 

 was a very severe drought, and yet we cut 2 tons 

 of hay per acre from the Big Countridge field, which, 

 from a distance of many miles, looked like a veritable 

 oasis in a desert of scorched hills. For the crop we 

 were mainly indebted to the kidney vetch, which, after 

 cutting, was almost entirely killed, but it had saved the 

 situation, and its immense rootage, covered with 

 nitrogen-collecting nodules, would no doubt tell favour- 

 ably on the grass and subsecLuent crops. It is generally 

 supposed that the kidney vetch never stands cutting, 

 but Hayhope Shank field was hayed in 1897, and a small 

 portion of the field, which was again hayed in 1900, 

 showed a fair proportion of the plant. The Big Haugh 

 field was sown in 1893 ; 2 lbs. chicory, 3 lbs. bumet, and 

 2 lbs. kidney vetch were included in the mixture. The 

 field was hayed the first year, and was ploughed for 

 turnips end of 1900. A strip was left unploughed along 

 the fence side on the margin of the Bowmont, and in 

 1901 (eight years after sowing) this showed plenty of 

 chicory, bumet, and kidney vetch. This seems to show 

 that under certain conditions the durability of the kidney 

 vetch is greater than is sometimes supposed.* 



Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium). — The value df this 

 plant for permanent pastures has been well known for 



• From iBquiries I have made the kidney vetch does not seem to thrive 

 on rich soils. Such is the opinion of an experienced tenant here, and 

 also of the agent of my King's County property in Ireland. 



