452 On Clovers. 



much as six inclies in height ; it, however, is so small in all its 

 parts that with my present limited knowledge of its growth 

 under cultivation I can scarcely pronounce in its favour. It may 

 interest those who have any superstitious regard for a " four- 

 leaved clover " to learn that in a small plot of this species I 

 could obtain at least a dozen leaves of this kind, 



7. Trifolium frarjiferum, Strawberry-headed trefoil, is here 

 noted from the similarity of its herbage to that of the White 

 Dutch clover. Its pink flowers and expanding head of calyces, 

 which are red, and of the form of a strawberry, sufficiently 

 distinguish the two, and this is of importance, since this species 

 is indicative of cold clay land, while the T. repens delights in 

 lighter soil. 



8. Trifolium repens, Wliite Dutch Clover, grown on light 

 soils. This is sometimes called White Suckling clover, a name 

 probably due to the fact that ewes or early lambs do remarkably 

 well upon it. If intended for hay it should always be mixed 

 with the hop trefoil, Medicago liipidina, as it is otherwise apt to 

 be short, and to root in the ground, a habit which enables it 

 soon to recover the close biting by sheep ; the more it is fed the 

 more perennial is its habit. 



9. 10. The Ti-ifolium jiliforme and T. prociimhens are two 

 common forms of the smaller yellow-flowered clovers. The fii'st 

 was formerly called Suckling clover, and was recommended for 

 cultivation for young calves, but the small quantity of herbage 

 it yields is much against its use. 



The Hop Clover is here inserted in order to point out that 

 though it is the true hop clover of the botanist, it is not the hop 

 trefoil of the farmer, which belongs to the medics. It gets the 

 name of hop clover from the peculiar aspect, like a bunch of 

 hops, of the withered head of flowers which remains even until 

 the seed is ripened. This plant was formerly cultivated, but its 

 scanty and innutritions herbage soon brought it into disfavour, 

 and caused it to be superseded by the Medicago lupulina, whose 

 leaves are so much like those of the T. procumlens as to have 

 caused the transference of its name. There can be no doubt but 

 that this medic is a most important addition to our list of plants of 

 this family, for although it can scarcely be recommended for self 

 use, 3'et in combination with red clover, or rye grass, or saintfoin, 

 it is of great value. I this year made a crop of hay from a 

 mixture of broad-leaved clover and medicago, which is calcu- 

 lated at about 2^ tons per acre, and had a patch in which it 

 was mixed with saintfoin yielding as good a cut. 



