Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1888-11-27

Information fran tho Commits
S5oner OF ASrscalture-

i S1UAACA - .. - = - - -
| Our exchanges have been pub
| lishing 90 much about the new for
age plant called Espercet during the
year, that we reprint the following
about it from the annual report ol
the Commissioner of Agriculture
Just received: "This lesuminous
forage plant has recently been in
troduced into this country under the
name OF "Espercet. Espercet is
tbs German name; San DIN is the
name used in France and England.
IL is . perennial, having somewhat
the appearance of Lucerne, but OF
similar size and different habit.
1t seldom exceeds 1 "A feet in height
win a weak stem, rather long and
picnate leaves, and flowers OF q
pink color 10 loose spike, 2 to 4
inches in length, raised on q long,
pedunciIe or stalk. The flowers arc
succeeded by short, single seeded
pods, which are strongly reticulated
or marked by raised lines and de-
pressed pits. 1t is q native of Gen.
tTal and Southern Europe and Wes-
tern Asia, and in Europe has long
been in cultivation. From expert
nents made by the Duke OF Bed
ford in England we learn that it was
first introduced to English farmers
as plant for cultivation from Flan-
ders in France, where it has
long been cultivated. 1t was found
to be less productive than the broad
leaysd clovsrs, but on ch1lky and
gravslly soils there was abundant
proof Of the superiority of Sainfoin.
It produces but little heritage the
FIRST year, but improves in quantity
for several years. Mr.. Martin j.
Sutton, in a recent work on "Psr-.
mansnt and temporary pastures,
says that it has been cultivated in
England for over tive hundred
years. He says it is essentially .
food for sheep, and in pasturing the
sheep do 1t no injury. 1t is also use.
full for horses, but produces nothing
like the quantity of green fodder
that can be obtained from the Lu-
csrne patch. When sown alone |
Mr.. Sutton says that Sainfoin is liza
BILE to decrease and become overrun
With weeds. Hs recommends its |
use a. predominant constituent in
} mixture OF grasses and clovers.
He says that combined with strong
growing grasses there is less risk
md the grasses keep down the
weeds which otherwise are apt to
,verrun the Salnfoin. In a green
state it is quite tree from the dan
ger of blowing cattle (koven,) and
when made into hay is an admirable
md nutritious food. But it requires
great care in drying when made
INTO hay. MIR. Sinclair states that
he produce of Sainfoin on q clayey
Dam with q sandy subsoil is greater
han on a sandy or gravely sell rest
ng upon clay. A French writer
avs that Sainfoin cannot accommo-
late itself to damp soil, and even
lreads soil which, although dry,
ests upon wet subsol. 1t delights
n dry soil, somewhat gravely and,
bove. all, calcaseous. 1t flourishes
lpon the deelivities of hills where
7ater cannot remain, and in light
oil where lis powerful root can
eadily penet. ate. But although sur
living IN the poorest calcareous soil
Ike clover and Lucerne, its produc-
iveness il always relative to the
'ermeabillty and fertility of
be land. 1t prefers open, sunny
faces, with Southern or Eastern
xposure. Sainfoin has received
everal trials in this country, but
1ithout success, probably from the
having been made up
n unsuitable soil. We cannot ex-
ect that it will be preferred in
laces where clover succeeds, hut {
, light soils and in regions with a
gbt rainfall it should receive a o
aorough tiial. A recent bulletin
{ the Iowa Agricultural College r