VI. ONOBRYCHIS.—Flowers in spikes, drooping; pod wrinkled, one-seeded. VII. VICIA.—Flowers single or spicate in the axils of the leaves; pod straight, many-seeded. VIII. LATHYRUS.—Flowers one or many on long footstalks. I. ULEX—_Furze_. A genus of shrubby, spinous, pea-flowered plants, by far too common on our sandy heaths and wild hilly places, with varieties occupying wet commons. We possess, according to authors, some two or three native species; but we incline to the belief that they are only varieties of the common _U. Europæus_, of which these seem to be large and dwarf forms. This plant, under the name of furze or gorse, has been from time to time highly extolled as a fodder plant, and machines have been invented for bruising its complicated spines; but although it will doubtless grow where scarcely anything else can be got to succeed, yet, taking into consideration the expense attendant upon its growth and utilization, and the low feeding powers which it possesses, we cannot at all agree in recommending its general use. It is, however, but right here to say that articles are from time to time inserted in such journals as the _Agricultural Gazette_, the authors of which advocate the growth of furze as an agricultural plant, and highly extol its feeding qualities; still, as our own experience would lead us to conclude that as even young stock scarcely hold their own upon this plant, we cannot recommend it as possessing very valuable properties. II. ANTHYLLIS—_Ladies’ Fingers_. The _Anthyllis vulneraria_ is well distinguished in its young state from its sometimes entire lancet-shaped, at others pinnate leaves, growing close to the ground. These are usually clothed with long hairs, and it has expanded downy calyces, when full grown. In its young condition it has been very much extolled for sheep pasturage, while its hay is said to be abundant and nutritious, though grown on the very poorest of soils. That it will grow more upright where sown, one plant drawing up another, we know from experience, but we have little faith in any very superior qualities being found in plants that can grow so well under extremely poor conditions of soil; still it is just possible that its herbage may improve in quantity and quality by liberal treatment; yet we must conclude that, as we already possess much better plants for growing on better soils, we do not think much can be gained by its cultivation. As a plant for hay it will yield a good cut, but its extreme hairyness and general want of what the farmer calls “proof” will never allow this plant to be extensively grown. III. LOTUS—_Bird’s-foot Trefoil_. This plant is well known by its loosely-packed heads of bright yellow flowers, which are succeeded by long slender pods, dark-coloured or even black when ripe, and not inaptly likened to a crow’s foot; and hence the name “Crowsfoot” which it commonly bears. We have three species, as follow:—