Lucerne, Sainfoin, etc. 109 



Lucerne {Medieago sativa). — On light, dry, or chalky- 

 soils, in the south of England, the lucerne is of great 

 value as a deep-rooter and drought-resister, but it seems 

 to be unsuitable to our soil and climate, and now I do 

 not use it at Clifton-on-Bowmont, but for seed mixtures 

 put down on my system on light, dry, or chalky soils in 

 the eastern and southern counties of England I would 

 advise the use of about 2 lbs. per acre. It has been recom- 

 mended by Sir John Lawes to be used when laying down 

 land to permanent grass, and 2 lbs. an acre may be 

 added to the seed mixtures for that purpose. 



Sainfoin (Onobrychissativa). — Like lucerne, the sainfoin 

 is unsuited to our soil and climate, and I am therefore 

 prevented from making use of this valuable forage 

 plant, but on chalky soils in the south and east of 

 England it should prove a very desirable addition to 

 seed mixtures formed on the Clifton Park system. 



Birdsfoot trefoil {Lotus corniculatus) calls for some 

 remark, as it appears in seedsmen's lists and mixtures, 

 though, from Sinclair's account of the plant, neither it 

 nor Lotus major seem to be deserving of attention. 

 Sinclair says that " they are greatly inferior to the clovers. 

 The white clover is superior to the common birdsfoot 

 trefoil in the quantity of nutritive matter it affords, in 

 the proportion of 5 to 4. It is much less productive of 

 herbage." Altogether, there seems to be no good reason 

 for cultivating this plant. 



Sheep's Parsley {Petroselinum sativum). — I generally 

 put down 1 lb. with my seed mixtures, as it is supposed 

 to be favourable to the health of sheep. 



Cotton grass, or draw moss {Eriphorum vaginatum). — 

 This, though called a grass, is a sedge which thrives 

 best in peaty lands. Its effect on sheep are so remark- 

 able that a little space may be profitably devoted to it 



" Soils," that plants sicken in a soil in consequence of the excreta from 

 their roots, and it is possible that this may have been the case with the 

 yarrow in question. 



