SAINFOIN ; ESPARSETTE 



655 



Bird's-foot Trefoil {Lotus corniailatus L.). 



FoRji AND Sizii. — The seeds of this plant are very plunip and 

 a rounded kidney-shape, somewliat reseniljling a short red clover 

 seed, with a not very prominent radicle. Sometimes specimens 

 are almost spherical. Length, from 17 to 2 mm.; breadth, i'5 

 mm.; and thickness, I'l mm. 



Colour .vnd Brightness. — The surface is very bright 

 vandyke-brown in colour, with a few dark spots. 



Purity. — Usually of high purity, but occasionally the allied 

 species. Marsh Bird's-foot Trefoil [Loins ii/igiiiosus Schk.), 

 which produces seed more freely and costs very much less, 

 is substituted for it. The seeds of Lotus nliginosiis Schk. are 

 much smaller, only about half the size of the Eird's-foot Trefoil, 

 and of a greenish hue. 



Germination Capacity. — Should be 95 per cent. 



Weight. — 1000 seeds from a good sample weigh about 

 IT grams. Bushel-weight, 66 lbs. 



Sainfoin; Esparsette {Onobryclns sativa Lamk.). — Two or 

 three varieties are known, 



differing in their duration 

 and time of flowering, 

 but their seeds are indis- 

 tinguishable. Both true 

 seeds, and the fruits with 

 a single seed in them, are 

 sown for the production 

 of a crop, the latter being 

 most generally employed. 

 Form and Size. — The 

 seed resembles a small, 

 broad bean in shape, 

 about 4'5 mm. long, 3 



Fig. 206. 



—Fruit (' unmilled seed ') of .Sainfoin. 



— Trae-sced ("milled seed') of Sainfoin. 



— Fruit of Burnet; acommon impurity of ' un- 

 milled Sainfoin seed. (All four times natural 

 size.) 



mm. broad, and 2 mm. thick. In 

 outline the frtiit or pod is almost straight along one side, 

 and rounded on the other. The surface is rough, with a 



