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93 
the gaping pales clearly distinguish it. Vulpia bromoides (fig. 41) is rarely used as an 
adulterant; it is darker in colour, longer and narrower, and the pale has a very long awn. 
Seed and Amounts to be sown. Good commercial seed should have a purity of 90°/o, Quantity to 
and a germination of at least 50%. The germinating power is sometimes higher, but very be sewn. 
frequently lower than this. One lb. of pure seed contains, on an average, 680,000 grains. 
The weight per bushel varies from 10 to 15 lbs., and is on an average, 12 or 13 Ibs. 
The average amount of seed required per acre is 28 lbs. containing 45°/o pure and 
germinating = 12°6 lbs. of pure and germinating seed. 
Sheep’s fescue should never be sown pure, even when the soil is quite poor. Other Mixtures. 
plants should be mixed with it, in order to obtain a complete sward. On extremely poor 
soils, kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) is appropriate; on somewhat better sandy soils, 
white clover, smooth-stalked meadow-grass, and perhaps Timothy should be used. It is 
most advantageous in a ley of four years’ duration. In mixtures for temporary and_ per- 
manent grass land, it may play the part of a bottom grass, but the percentage used 
should always be small. 
When Sheep’s fescue forms the bulk of a mixture, it is best to sow it in autumn, Sowing. 
after potatoes, alone with rye. After harvesting the rye, depasturing should not be com- 
menced till the grass has obtained a firm footing, because the young plants are so 
easily uprooted by sheep. Rolling is advisable after carrying the rye, and also in the 
spring of the following year. Such treatment gives the plants a better hold on the ground, 
and presses into the soil those which have been uprooted by frost during winter. On 
sandy soils, sheep’s fescue is a good preparation for rye; in such a case, a good rotation 
would be: — 1. Rye. 2. Potatoes, manured. 3. Rye. 4—7. Sheep pasture. 
‘Amethyst blue fescue (Festuca amethystina, L.), is a near ally of sheep’s fescue. It is distinguished Allied species. 
from all other species of the genus by its leaf-sheath, the lower half of which is entire and has a 
deep fold. The hairy ovary is also very distinctive. The leaves are exceedingly long, fine, hair-like, 
and bluish-green, becoming furrowed when dry. The spikelets are awnless. It occurs in dry localities 
and on sunny spots in pine-woods. It is found in mountainous countries of Central Europe. 
XVII. Sainfoin. 
Onobrychis sativa, Lmk. 
Fig. A. Apical portion of a plant, shewing the leaves and inflorescence. Explanation 
, 1. The flower, side-view. of plate. 
, 2 The same, with the standard removed. 
» 3 The same, with the standard and calyx removed. 
» 4. The stamens. 
5. The pistil. 
,, 6. The fruit, seen from the surface. The edge to the left is uppermost in the flower. 
7. The seed, from the surface. 
; & The same, from the edge. 
9, Transverse section of the fruit, shewing the pericarp and seed. 
