ii6 OTHER FORAGE PLANTS— GOATS RUE. 



is of the utmost importance that buyers should always 

 look for a guarantee that the seed they buy is free 

 from Dodder. It is also stated that the seeds of Trefoil 

 (Common Yellow Clover), as well as the seeds of two 

 or three other more or less useless annual varieties of the 

 Medicago family, are used for adulterating M. sativa. 



According to M. Ville, Lucern takes from between 

 250 lbs. to 350 lbs. of nitrogen per acre from the air, 

 which would be a sufficient supply for four times as 

 large an area under wheat. 



Sir John B. Lawbs, however, in commenting on this 

 point, is not sure that this nitrogen is not derived froTn 

 the subsoil. There is (July 1886) a field of Lucern at 

 Eothamsted which is seven years old, and yields from 

 250 lbs. to 350 lbs. of nitrogen per annum; but the 

 roots of the Lucern have been followed into the chalk, 

 some eight or nine feet below the surface. [The land 

 had received mineral manure, but none of nitrogenous 

 for thirty years.] 



Goat's Rue. 



{Oalega officiTiaKs.) 



A leguminous plant, growing from two to five feet 

 high, well furnished with foliage. 



Messrs. Caetee & Co., who took an interest in recom- 

 mending the culture of this as a forage plant, say of it, 

 that its perennial habit and robust growth are points 

 worth attention, as seeming to imply abundance of forage 

 with little labour. It is also useful for green-manuring, 

 as it contains much nitrogen. It stands drought re- 



