Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-24
0Nurtester ,4ailp spp,

SAINFoIN AS A FORAGE PLANT-Among
the many herbs grown in Europe for forage is
sanfoin, of the order Leguminosg, with snowy
red flowers and spreading STEMS Its cultiva-
ton was introduced into England from France
in 1861, and it was then called French finger
grass. Its present appellaton is Gallo, and
doubtless refers TO the color of its blossoms. In
a wild state it was almost altogether confined
10 the dry, chalky soils OF England. One of
the peculiarities of its culture (says the Cyclic
pedia of Agriculture is the fact of its growth
being confined 70 districts. In one district ION
chalk greater breadth of it will be seen grow
ing than any other heritage plant; while in an
other, probably only few miles distant, ION
clsy) it will be as unknown as though it were
afresh importation fl ON America or Australia.
When the system of tumip farming was in
auguated upon the limestone hills of Cotswold,
and upon the sheep farms of the chalk forma-
tons of Berkshire, Wiltshire, and Hampshire,
the prestige which sanfOin had previOusiy held
began to fade-for, until that period, it was
considered the mainstay of the stock breeder.
Nor has its fame become totally extinct as yet;
the authority before referred to states that
"even now it is acknowledged to be of so much
Importance that a clause III many of the leases
compels the tenant to leave certain quantity
of land in sainfoin at the expiration of his
lease" The usual custom upon the Cotswoid
hills, and the Southern counties of England,
was to allow the land to remain in this crop for
term of years, varying from four to seven.
The growth of the first year was inferior the
second and third good, and then the natural
grasses and the growth of seeds dropped by
sheep fed upon hay, begin to drive it ol.t,
and in a short period quite smother it.
This result is attributed to carele. aneeS ard
want of cleanliness in culture as a farmer in
the eastern counties writes 80 insure fine
crop, and one that will continue for tenn of
years, it is necessary that the land should be
clean and in good condition, for the neglect of
these principles of good husbandry may be
attributed to the failure of the crop after a few
seasons, and also the vely ,,enerily received
opinion of the southern farmers, dad TIE first
years crop is found to be The lea lest" In
these latter counties, on the light sands md
sandy loans, with calcareous subsoii. o. ad
mixtures, sain-fon takes The place OF clover in
the rotation, and lies sometimes only one end
seldom more than two years, except on he
very Gghtest and poorest lands.
MIR. Flint says that experiments have been
made to introduce it into Massachusetts, with
out success. 1t hes been found no. OF suffi-
Gent hardness to successfully withstand the
effects of a severe winter when younG, but af-
ter the second or third year it win bear up
under considerable degree of oold. There
has not been such a multiplied Of expert
ments, however, as viii warrant Us n saying
that saintoin is Of no use to the American
farmer, The facts we have already given, in
relation 90 the comparative failure of one body
of English farmers, and tie entire success Of
another cla.s, especially when We consider
how much our system is behind tlat OF ;,le
mother country in its cleanliness, viii 20 far
in removing any belief as TO TIE cons titutional
weakness OF the plant. With like ere and