104 LTJCEENE. 



CHAPTER XIIT. 



LTJCEENB. 



Medicago Sativa^SpeciflG Character. 



Upright, smootli, perrennial, leaflets obovate, ob- 

 long, toothed ; flowers (purple) racemed ; pods spir- 

 ally twisted. Cultivated for green fodder, rarely 

 spontaneous. Flowers in July and ripens seeds in 

 j^ugust. 



Way's Analysis 



100 parts as taken green from the field May 16 th. 



Water 69.65 



Albuminous or flesh forming principles 3.83 



Fatty matters - - -^ 



Heat producing principles, starch, sugar, gum, etc 13.62 



Woody fibre 8.74 



Mineral matter or Ash 3.04 



100.00 

 100 parts of the grass dried at 212*^ Fahr. 



Albuminous or flesh forming principles 12.96 



Fatty matters 2.76 



Heat producing principles, starch, sugar, gum, etc 40.16 



Woody fibre.. 34.21 



Mineral matter or Ash 10.11 



100.00 

 Lucerne was introduced into British husbandry 

 about the middle of the 17th century, and has ever 

 since been cultivated successfully in the British Isles. 

 It stiU continues a favorite plant for soiling purposes. 

 It may be sown broadcast, drUled or transplanted, 

 all of which methods have been successfully prac- 

 ticed. The proper time for sowing in England is 

 toward the middle or end of March, or not later than 

 April, because like the turnip, Lucerne is subject to 



