On the Giant Sainfoin. 



69 



Stotfold, Beds. 



Sir, — I have cultivated the Giant Sainfoin more with a view to test its 

 real properties than for any other purpose, and have sowed it upon the 

 richest and poorest description of soil I occupy. 



The former is a rich, deep, black gravel-loam, where it remained in plant 

 four years, being mowed for hay and seed each year. The plant was thin, 

 but the hay-crop most abundant. 



The latter was some land where gravel-stone had been dug and the 

 surface-soil buried, leaving nothing but the siftings to work upon. Here, 

 also, it has answered well, producing both hay and seed the last two 

 seasons ; and it has been remarked by myself and neighbours, that the 

 hay-crop alone in each year was superior to the average of the corn-crops 

 I had heretofore grown upon the land. 



I now regret that I did not cultivate the plant more extensively at an 

 earlier period, as no one, in my opinion, who knows its value, will cultivate 

 the common variety when this can be reasonably obtained. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c, 



Bryan Gibbins. 



Bassingboume, Cambridgeshire. 

 Dear Sir, — I take the earliest opportunity of replying to your note. I 

 have grown the Giant Sainfoin for some years, and on different soils, but 

 chiefly on thin chalk hills, which I think peculiarly suited for it. I have 

 sown it side by side with the common Sainfoin, and the difference in the 

 growth and produce of the two sorts was astonishing. The Giant comes 

 earlier to maturity, and, I believe, upon all poor, thin-stapled chalk-soils it 

 will supersede the former — growing much earlier, stronger, and of greater 

 produce per acre. You are quite at liberty to make what use you please 

 of the above remarks. 



I am, dear Sir, yours truly, 



James Lilley. 



Littlebury, near Saffron Walden, Essex, 

 Dec. 26th, 1848. 



Sir, — In answer to your inquiries, I beg to inform you that I have grown 

 the Giant Sainfoin four years upon a thin rubbly chalk, and have found it 

 considerably more productive than the old sort. Some persons have 

 doubted the distinction, but even the most sceptical have only to see the 

 two varieties growing together to be convinced of the superiority of the 

 Giant. Not only does it mature somewhat earlier for mowing (at the 

 same time producing 20 per cent, more), but the rapidity with which it 

 grows the second, and even the third time, is quite wonderful. 



I think, in a few years, when its properties become more generally 

 known, it will be considered by the flock-masters, upon light soils, to be 

 quite indispensable ; for, with a moderate breadth of it in plant, they will 

 never know in the summer months what it is to be short of keeping ; 

 indeed, I quite expect, at some future time, it will altogether supersede 

 Lucern, for, with the same attention and manuring, I feel confident as 

 much weight may be produced, and, I think, superior in quality, as all 

 growers of Lucern are aware that the second and third cuttings are not 

 relished so much by their stock as the first ; but this is not the case with 

 the Giant Sainfoin, which is eaten with avidity at every cutting. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c, 



To Mr. Hine. John Clayden, 



