20 POPULAR ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



any other food in small quantities ; hence it is much used by 

 travellers over the deserts, where the carriage of bulky food 

 is inconvenient. It is imported occasionally, but for what 

 purpose is not very clear, — it is thought for the purpose of 

 roasting and grinding up with coffee as an adulteration. 



This probably is the best place to mention a few seeds 

 which are imported in considerable quantities, wholly for 

 agricultural purposes, either because they are better ripened 

 abroad, or because the supply of home-raised seed is insuffi- 

 cient to meet the demand. 



Lucerne Seed — Medicago sativa (Leguminosce) . — A small 

 reddish-yellow seed, not quite so long, but thicker than a 

 carraway seed, and the skin is quite smooth. It is a native 

 of Britain, but is often imported from Holland and France. 



Clover (Dutch) — Trifolium repens (Leguminosce) .— This 

 seed is extensively imported from Holland and Germany. 

 Although a native of most parts of Europe, it ripens best 

 in those countries, and the imported seed is much esteemed. 

 It is a minute kidney-shaped seed, less than half the size of 

 a mustard-seed, and of a yellow or brown colour. 



Clover (American) — Trifolium Pennsylvanicum.. — Of this 

 species we receive very large quantities. It is found par- 

 ticularly well adapted for culture in this country, and the 



