BURNET. 113 



CHAPTER XVI. 



BXJRNET. 



Poterium Sanguisorba — Specific Character. 



Leaves compoiijid leaflets, serrated or toothed ; 

 stems somewhat angular, branching stamens much 

 longer than the calyx ; perrennial ; height, 2 to 3 

 feet. G-rows naturally on chalky pastures in Eng- 

 land. Flowers end of June, and ripens seed end of 

 July. 



Burnet abounds much on all chalky downs in 

 England, but will flourish on any soil, whether, 

 sand, clay, peat, etc. It is remarked that there are 

 large tracts of the finest parts of the South Downs 

 upon which this plant forms half the indigenous pas- 

 turage. 



Burnet has a perrennial root, that strikes deeply 

 into the soil and rises with a stalk, a foot or more in 

 height. In the culture of the plant it is of vast im- 

 portance to have good seed, and such as is of the 

 proper sort. 



The celebrated agriculturist, Mr. Coke, of Holkham, 

 sowed forty acres with Burnet, adding a small quan- 

 tity of white clover and rib-grass seeds with it, as an 

 experiment. The result was decisive. The field was 

 fully and incessantly stocked with , sheep, and con- 

 stantly pared as close to the ground as a favorite 

 spot could be by horses in a pasture. 



Burnet is frequently sown alone, and is considered 

 as the best adapted of all forage plants to bear the 

 rigor of winter in exposed situations. It is, there- 

 fore, much used by stock masters, particularly for 



