434 LEGUMINOS^ 



When seed of the Old Common variety is wanted the first 

 growth of the year must be reserved for the purpose. 



The seed is drilled in March or April, usually on a cereal 

 crop at the rate, of 4 bushels (loo-iio lbs.) of 'seed in the husk,' 

 or 50 lbs. of ' milled ' (true) seed per acre. 



The seed should be drilled about i inch deep in rows 9 to 1 2 

 inches apart. 



Ex. 227. — Dig up and examine young seedling plants of Sainfoin, Lucerne, and 

 Black Medick. Note the form and extent of the roots and branches of the plants. 



Examine full-grown plants of each species, paying special attention to the 

 structure and form of tlieir flowers, fruits, and seeds. 



Serradella (Genus Ornithopus). 



19. To the genus Ornithopus belongs Serradella {Ornithopus 

 sativus Brot.), a wild Portuguese and Spanish species, intro- 

 duced to many parts of the Continent as a useful plant for 

 growth upon dry sandy ground, and sometimes mentioned in 

 this country. It is grown largely for ploughing-in as a ' green 

 manure,' and is also utilised green as fodder or made into hay. 



Serradella is a slender annual, about 12 or 18 inches high, 

 with compound pinnate leaves and small pale rose-coloured 

 flowers, of which from two to five grow together in a cluster at 

 the end of long axillary peduncles. 



The fruit is curved, and breaks up transversely into many one- 

 seeded ' joints ' ; three or four fruits growing together resemble 

 a bird's foot. 



Kidney Vetch (Genus Anthyllis). 



20. Kidney Vetch {Anthyllis Vulneraria L.). — An herbaceous 

 perennial conimpn in dry pastures and on banks in calcareous 

 districts. 



It possesses a strong underground branched rhizome, from 

 which ascending stems arise from 8 to 18 inches in length. 

 The latter are more or less softly hairy and bear few leaves. 



During the first year the young plants possess a rosette of 

 leaves close to the ground : these leaves are mostly simple and 



