THE GREATER BIRDS FOOT TREFOIL. 103 



with avidity by cattle. From the depth to which its 

 roots penetrate, it is not liable to be injured by 

 drought, and is thereby enabled to retain its verdure 

 after the grasses and other plants are burned up. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE GREATER BIRDS FOOT TREFOIL. 



Lotus Major. 



Remarks. Some eminent botanists are of the 

 opinion that this is nothing else than a variety of 

 Lotus Corniculatus and account for the difference 

 from the natural place of growth of the L. Major, 

 causing a greater development of its parts, but be- 

 sides its more luxuriant habit, it differs materially 

 from L. Corniculatus in the form of its roots, which 

 are fibrous and creeping, while those of the latter 

 are thick and fusiform, characteristics which both 

 retain when cultivated in any soils under any cir- 

 cumstances, the seeds of Lotus Major being only 

 half the size. This specie grows naturally by the 

 sides of ditches, damp hedges and bushy places, and 

 attains its greatest luxurience in such soils as have a 

 portion of peat for their composition. Both those 

 plants are very common in pastures throughout 

 Grreat Britian. 



