He says that the burning of Lupin seeds drives away gnats. This Lupin was cultivated by the Romans as an article of food. In the Western United and southward into the Andes, the species are very numerous. If grown from seed, Lupins do not often come true to type, but if propagated, they will remain true. They must be isolated, owing to insects which might cross the pollen.
Lupins cross readily, hence isolation for propagation is absolutely necessary.
To intensify their colouring, sulphate of ammonia and sulphate of iron may both be employed. Climatic conditions also more or less affect their colouring. Lupins were spoken of as probably the best crop for light land, such as the poor land on the Suffolk coast, where Lupin growing is extending, as also on similar land in the northern part of Nottinghamshire. In Suffolk the Blue Lupin is the local variety, and anyone travelling through that country in July will see whole fields devoted to it. The great value of the plant lies in its capacity for growing luxuriantly on land which is so light and sandy that hardly anything else will thrive.