14

PLANTS USEFUL IN AGRICULTURE.

truly practical account is given of it by Ellis in his Husbandry, p. 89,by the old name Lady-Finger-Grass.

46. MEDICAGO falcata. Yellow Medic —Is nearly allied toLucerne, and U equally good for fodder; it will grow on land that is verydry, and hence is likely to become a most useful plant; its culturehas, however, been tried but partially- Some experiments were madewith this plant by Thomas Le Blanc, E^q., in Suffolk, which are re-corded by Professor Martyn. Martyn's Miller's Diet. art. Medicago.

47. MEDICAGO polymorpha. Variable Medic —This is also aplant much relished by cattle, but is not in cultivation: it is an an-nual, and perhaps inferior in many respects to the Nonsuch, which it insome measure resembles. There are many varieties of this plantcultivated in flower gardens on account of the curious shapes of theseed-pods, some having a distant resemblance to snails' horns, cater-pillars, &c. under which names they are sold in the seed-shops. It growsin sandy hilly soils; the wild kind has flat pods,

48. MEDICAGO sativa. Lucerne. —Too much cannot be said inpraise of this most useful perennial plant: it is every thing the farmercan wish for, excepting that it will not grow without proper culture. Itshould be drilled at eighteen inches distance, and kept constantly hoedall summer, have a large coat of manure in winter, and be dug intothe ground between the drills. Six or seven pounds of seed will bow anacre in this mode. ..

I have known Lucerne sown with Grass and Ciover foWorming meadowland; but as it does not thrive well when encumbered with other plants,I see no good derived from the practice. No plant requires, or in factdeserves, better cultivation than this, and few plants yield less if badlymanaged.

49. MEDICAGO lupiilina. Trefoil, or Nonsuch. —A biennial plant,very usefully cultivated with Rye-grass and Clover for forming arliiieialmeadows. Trefoil when left on the ground will seed, and these willreadily grow and renew the plant successively ; which bus caused somepersons to suppose it to be perennial. About eight or ten pounds ofseed are usually sown with six or eight pecks of Rye-grass for an acre,under a crop of Barley or Oats.

50. PLANTAGO lanceoJata. Rib-Grass. —This is a perennial plant,and very usefully grown, either mixed with grasses or sometimes alone:it will thrive in any soil, and particularly in rocky situations. It ismuch grown on the hills in Wales, where by its mots spreading fromstone to stone it is often found to prevent the '-oil from being washed off,and has been known to keep a large district fertile which would otherwisebe only a bare rock. Sheep are particularly fond of it. About four