51 



matter. Under this name several species and varieties closely related to it and 

 having nearly the same qualities are frequently confounded in commerce and culti- 

 vation. " ( Vilmorin . ) 



The seed weighs 31 pounds per bushel, and 7 to 10 pounds are sown per acre. 



1466. Ervum lens. Lentil. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, December, 1898. (21 pack- 

 ages.) 

 "Lentillepetitealareine." "Lentillon de Mars." (Small queen or March lentil. ) 



Variety "minus." 



"Annual. Cultivated generally for its seed; it gives also a very useful fodder ; 

 requires wholesome, dry siliceous or gravelly soils. Seeding takes place in March 

 and April; mixed with a little oats or rye to support it." ( Vilmorin.) 



Weighs 62 pounds per bushel; 90 to 107 pounds are sown per acre. In some coun- 

 tries it is sown, especially if for forage, at the rate of 143 pounds per acre. 



1467. Ervum lens. Lentil. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, December, 1898. (44 pack- 

 ages. ) 

 "Lentille petite rouge." "Lentillon d'hiver rouge." (Small or winter red lentil.) 



Variety "Memale." 



"Annual. Employed like E. lens minus. It is cultivated principally in northern 

 and eastern France. Sown in September, alone if for the seed, in a mixture with 

 rye or winter oats if for fodder." ( Vilmorin.) 



Ninety to 107 pounds per acre is sown for seed ; as high as 143 pounds for forage. 



1468. Lotus uligmnosus. Bird's-foot trefoil. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, December, 1898. (8 pack- 

 ages.) 



"Lotier velu" (hairy lotus). 



"Perennial; a very good plant for meadows and damp woods, demanding more 

 humidity than L. corniculatus; taller and gives more fodder ; succeeds quite well in 

 the shade, in peat bogs, heaths, and acid marshes, not calcareous ; has been proposed 

 for the formation of artificial prairies and is very suitable for mixtures for meadows 

 and natural pastures. This lotus is a little more proline in its seeds than L. corni- 

 culatus. It may be sown from March to May and even in autumn." ( Vilmorin.) 



The seed weighs about 62 pounds per bushel; 7 to 9 pounds are sown per acre. 



1469. Medicago sativa. Alfalfa. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, December, 1898. (9 pack- 

 ages.) 



"Luzerne de Provence" (Provence lucern). 



" Perennial ; root very long, axial ; plant early, very productive, and of very long 

 duration. It succeeds in all good wholesome soils, deep, and even damp, but with- 

 out an excess of humidity. It may be found growing, though less vigorously, on 

 dry, light soils, on slopes and escarpments, even on dunes. It is sown generally in 

 spring with a cereal, but even in summer with flaxseed, buckwheat, or haricot 

 beans. In climates where the winters are mild one may sow at the end of the sum- 

 mer or early in autumn, together with rye or winter barley, but only on dry and 

 light soils. The differences existing between plants springing from Provence seed 

 and those from seed of other localities have been contested, and if they exist at all, 

 they are due perhaps only to the fact that the Provence seed is handsomer, better 

 filled, and more uniformly good, sprouts more thickly, and furnishes more vigorous 

 plants and in greater number upon the same area. Nevertheless, there are places 

 where an absolute preference is given to seed gathered in the north." ( Vilmorin.) 



The seed Aveighs 58 to 62 pounds per bushel; 18 to 22 pounds is sown per acre. 



1470. Medicago sativa. Alfalfa. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, December, 1898. (9 pack- 

 ages.) 



"Luzerne de pays ou de Poitou" (country or Poitou lucern). 



