Seed quality. 
Amount to be 
sown. 
Sowing. 
Mixtures. 
Marsh 
bird’s - foot 
trefoil. 
Explanation 
of plate. 
164 
of seed which, after careful examination, turned out to be the germander (Tenerinm Cha- 
nuedirys, 14.) The nutlet of this species has some resemblance to the seed of Lotus, but 
it is darker brown in colour, dull, and the base, which is slightly wedge-shaped and acute, 
has a large scar at the side; two of the lateral faces are flattened in consequence of the 
mutual pressure exercised by the four nutlets, situated at the base of the persistent calyx 
(see fig, 71, pag. 163). More rarely, the nutlets are rounded; this happens when only two 
of the nutlets — instead of the four normally developed —- are produced by a flower, 
Seed and amounts to be sown. Commercial seed has, on an average, $5 °%/o purity and 
A %o germination = 42.5 °%/o of pure and germinating seed. In determining the germi- 
nating power, one-third (== 10 °/o) of the hard seeds (== 31 °%/o) are reckoned as germinating, 
One lb. of pure seed contains 375,000 grains, while one Ib. of marsh bird’s-foot trefoil 
(Lotus uliginosus) seed contains 854,000. The weight per bushel is about 60 Ibs. 
One acre requires 11 Ibs. of seed. containing 42.5 %/o pure and germinating == 4.675 Ibs. 
of pure and germinating seed, | | 
——— 
In mixtures, it is customary to sow this plant in spring, rarely in autumn. The seed 
is very tardy in its germination. Concerning the preparatory crop, preparation of soil, 
depth of sowing, the reader is referred to the remarks under these heads in the article on 
lucerne. It is usually sown In a protective crop, 
The land is left in good condition. in consequence of the very complete shade which the plant affords. 
Bird’s-foot trefoil, as already mentioned, is very rarely sown by itself. It occupies its proper place only, 
when used in mixtures to form bottom herbage on permanent hay-land: im such circumstances, it adds 
considerably to the produce. In addition, it has a very perennial character, and should, .accordingly, 
always find a place in permanent hay mixtures. 
Marsh bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus wliginosus, Schk.), whose seed occurs in commerce under the name of 
Lotus rillosus, is a plant adapted for fodder production only on moor- or marsh-land; on other soils, it 
is smaller and later in development than ordinary bird’s-foot trefoil. 
XXX. Officinal goat’s-rue. 
Galega officinalis, L. 
Fig. A. Summit of the flower-bearing stein. 
, 1. The flower, side-view. 
, 2 The calyx, showing the tube and teeth. 
, 3. The flower, with the calyx and the standard removed, side-view. 
, & The wing. 
, 9. The keel and stamen-tube, side-view, 
, 6. The reproductive organs, 
, 7. The pistil. 
, & The legume, seen from the dorsal suture, 
, 9. The leguine, side-view. 
, 10. The seed, seen from the hilum. 
. 1. The seed, side-view, 
‘rs | re, | py = 7. penn a 
