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Agricultural Goat’s-rue is an excellent fodder plant for warm sheltered situations, where the soil is deep, even 
value. though it is dry and poor. It soon dies, when shelter is insufficient and, for that reason, is has not 
been cultivated in Germany. It is, however, of great value and very persistent in the well sheltered 
valleys of Southern Switzerland, to which manure cannot easily be transporled, ¢. g. at Valais, Grisons, 
and Tessin. 
Geographical Occurrence, climate, soil, manure. This plant is indigenous to South Eastern Europe: 
distribution. but whereas in olden times it was cullivated in central Europe for medicinal purpose, it has now become 
naturalised in Germany, France, Switzerland, etc. 
Habitat. When wild, it always frequents humous situations, under hedges, in bushes, wood-clearings, or 
meadows — wherever it finds protection against the cold. 
Limits It never occurs wild on mountains, but confines itself to low-lying lands. 
of ‘altitude. a ; ‘ . : ; 7 . ; 
Chimate: It requires a sheltered situation, because, in severe winters, It may either be killed by 
the frost or uprooted. This may be partially prevented by covering it with unrotted manure. 
or potato tops. As its roots are deeply seated in the ground, it is little affected by drought. 
Soil. It thrives only in a deep soil, and when the subsoil is not wet; its requirements, In 
these respects. are similar to those of lucerne, but manuring is not so important. It can 
be cultivated even on scorching soils. ) 
Substances According to the Swiss analyses, 1000 Ibs. of hay remove from the soil: — 
removed from Nitrogen 27.3 Ibs., mineral matter 71.8 Ibs. composed of: 
the ‘soil. Phosphoric acid  . 8.9 Ibs. [SUC g 2 a tee ea ES, 
Polish (twits me PAO ib ame, Sulphuric acid . . 3.4 ,, 
Raniet” SLURS! try =} eS Silica. %).52 tole .peee leeontoues 
Magyiesta: fe .<''5 4 (Sods, 
Manure. Under this head, it is important to notice that deep-rooted plants, such as goat’s-rue, 
satisfy their requirements to a large extent from the subsoil, consequently, manure is of 
little importance. 
Growth. Growth, yield, nutritive value. According to the nature of the soil, the plant forms 
stems with abundant foliage, but varying between two and five feet in length, and when 
thinly planted, very many branches are developed, but when close, the nuinber diminishes. 
Development. After each cutting, the buds at the base of the stems quickly open out and form a 
new set of stems. If sown in spring, one or two cuttings may be taken in the same year, 
as the plant is a rapid grower. On the experimental field at Zurich, goat’s-rue was sown 
on May 4 1882: it came into flower on July 21%, and two cuttings were easily taken in 
the same year. In spring. it shoots somewhat later than lucerne or sainfoin; in 1883, it 
flowered about the end of June, and, when cut, the yield was very abundant. After cutting, 
it grows more rapidly than sainfoin, but less quickly than lucerne, it vields two cuttings, 
and the produce of the second is almost as abundant as the first, because stems and flowers 
are reproduced in it. The second cutting should not be taken later than September, in 
order to allow the plants time to reestablish themselves and become better able to with- 
stand the winter frost. 
Harvesting. Cutting should always take place, when the first racemes begin to flower, because, as 
the flowering advances, the stems become hard, and are then not eaten by stock. Until 
the flowering stage is reached, the plants are soft and full of sap. They are used green. 
because drving is very difficult, renders them hard, and leads to great loss of leaf. In warm 
situations, and where manuring is impracticable, the yield is as high as that of lueerne, 
especially if the plants are cultivated in rows which allow thorough hoeing, 
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