TJic Country Gcnilciuaiis Magazi;ic 



clover seed," and the fourth from another of 

 good yellow clover, medick, or trefoil seed. 



have taken tliem for those of the dodder, 

 that pest of Dutch clover fields. In the 



No I. shews really good plump seeds of sample from whence they were taken these 



red clover in different positions, when magni- 

 fied by only a good pocket microscope. It is 

 usually of a shaded purplish and }'ellowish 



^/^ lU) ^ 



■Genuine Seeds of Red Clover. 



colour, someof the seeds being entirely yellow; 

 and at the Great Exhibition of 1862 there 

 was a Norwegian sample similar in colour to 

 No. 4 ; although the form of the seeds shewed 

 that they belonged to the true red clover — 

 Trifolium pratense — some of our native wild 

 varieties of which have also yellow seeds. 



KiG. 2.— Unripe Seeds of Red CI 



No. 2 represents imperfectly ripened seeds 

 of red clover, enclosed in their still adhering 

 husks. These, as shewn in the engraving, 

 resemble small acorns with their cups at- 

 tached ; and in sample, they are so unlike 

 the seeds of any of our field weeds that many 



were present in about the proportion of six 

 per cent. 



No. 3 exhibits difterent views of the rib- 



go lanceolata". 



grass, common ril^wort, or plantain seed — 

 Plantago lanceolata — magnified on the same 

 scale as the others. This was present in the 

 sample to about 13 per cent. ; and, being of 

 comparatively little value, it is too generally 

 introduced among clover seeds for the pur- 

 pose of adding a " paying per-centage" to the 



dealer's profits. It is, however, well-known 

 by its deep brown colour, somewhat shining 

 appearance, and different shape to that of 

 the clover seed; and, being easily distinguished 

 by the naked eye, those who purchase it from 

 sample have themselves to blame. 



