88 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



I have for some years past studied quite carefully in different sta^res of 

 growth, at different seasons., and on different soils, many hundreds of pliints. 

 I have preserved some of the plants and seeds of a few of the most striking. 



There is nearly, or quite, a month's difference in the time of producing the 

 first crop of flowers. Some plants stool out and send up many stalks; others 

 few. On hot, dry days some plants wilt, while others show no signs of 

 wilting. Some plants are tall and large, or slender; others are short, even 

 where the soil seems to be uniform ; some are erect, even where there is 

 nothing to crowd them; others spread out at once, even where somewhat 

 crowded. 



The leaves and stems of some plants are densely pubescent ; others are 

 nearly smooth, and between these are all gradations. In tliis respect the 

 same plant varies a little at different seasons. The stems vary much in 

 length and number of branches and in the color. On some plants the leaves 

 are dark green; on others light green. The leaflets often contai a a light 

 spot, which varies in shape, size, and intensity. Some are destitute of any 

 trace of spots. Some leaves are firm and a quarter or mo)e thicker than, 

 others; some are thin and flabby. Some leaflets are as broad as long; ot lers 

 are elliptical, lanceolate. The stipules vary in shape, color, and i^osition 

 taken. The heads of flowers vary in size and shape, and so far as seen were 

 sessile, with an involucre of two leaves. The calyx tube and the lobes of 

 the calyx vary in size and hardiness. The petals vary in length, direction 

 taken, and differ in color from dirty white to pink and bright scarlet. 

 Varying with the season, and pi'obably with the plant, the pistils contain 

 each from none to two, three, or even four seeds. There is a marked 

 difference, as before observed, in the color of the seeds. 



Of some plants observed, I give the following bi-ief description: Plant 

 No. 1 is early, stems purplish, few and small, erect, quite hairy, leaflets spot- 

 ted, rather narrovv, leaflets of the involucre, lance-elliptical. Plant No. & 

 ^= hite, stems few, stout, s])rawling, quite smooth, purplish, leaflets rather 

 narrovv, with scarcely a trace of a spot. Plant No. 17 is very late, stems 

 long, of medium size, spreading, g.'een, quite hairy; leaves light green, 

 spot inconspicuous. Plant No. 19 is a seedling of dark seed. The stems 

 come up early, are numerous, large, tall, erect, smooth, purplish; leaflets 

 rather broad, thick, very dark green, with no trace of spots; flowers dark 

 colored. 



THE ilODEL PLANT. 



I have begun a few experiments in a very small way by selecting and rais- 

 ing ditferent races of red clover. This variation in red clover in our fields 

 is a broad hint at the results which may be obtained by care and study. 



For the Northern States we need a red clover which starts early, grows 

 rapidly, has numerous erect, rather stout stems which are not large. If too 

 woody, the stems make coarse food ; if they contain too little woody matter 

 they will not be stiff enough to stand up well. The plant should be rather 

 hairy, as such plants usually endure hot, dry weather best. The plants 

 should seed freely, and to aid in this, if possible, the tube of the flower should 

 be short enough to permit honey bees to reach the nectar. 



The tongue of a honey bee when stretched out is six to seven micro-milli- 

 meters in length, while the tube of the carolla of red clover is nine or tert 

 micro-millimeters. It seems by this, there is a wide breach to be gained in 

 growth of tongue or shortening of flower before the honey bee can sip the 



