54 TRIFOLIUM. 



wild, and this is cultivated for the Shamrock. — The flowers are some- 

 times rose-coloured ; and plants so tinted may be seen growing on 

 Spittal links almost intermingled with the white race. 



136. T. PRATENSE. Don Gard. Diet. ii. 183. CXobcr. Mea- 

 dows and pastures, common. The variety sativum, said to have been 

 introduced to Britain by the Romans almost immediately after their 

 invasion and settlement (Whitaker's Manchester, i. p. 318), was 

 introduced into Berwickshire husbandly by Lord Kaimes in 1750, 

 and is extensively cultivated under the name of Red or Purple Clover. 

 The flowered heads are called by the common people iSoofetes" or 

 iSucfeltrsi, — a name which occurs in the "Gentle Shepherd" of Allan 

 Ramsay : 



" Under that tree, and on the jfltlfelcv brae. 

 Where aft we wont, when bairns, to rin and play." 



A " foure levit claver " has, from an early period, been associated 

 with the mysteries of fairie-land ; and to this day our children deem 

 themselves destined to be lucky, when they find one*. '^Beliefs of 

 this kind will continue to influence posterity, for they are perma- 

 nently rooted in that stage of life which corresponds, in its credu- 

 lity and faith, with the age of society in which the beliefs originated. 



137. T. MEDIUM. CotD^gra:^;^ : SlMtltf ^oofew;^. In meadows 

 and deans, common. July. 



138. T. ARVENSE. Sandy barren fields, uncommon. B. Banks 

 of the Eye opposite Netherbyres : Pease-dean : Sea banks below 

 Dulaw, at Siccar-point, and near the Cove-shore. — D. Heugh of Holy- 

 Island. — R. Banks of the Tweed below Kelso, Dr. F. Douglas. — 

 N. Bed of Wooler-water above Wooler. 



139. T. STRIATUM. Dry pastures and banks covered sparingly 

 mth soil, of occasional occurrence throughout the district. R. Stit- 

 chell brae, abundantly. Trans. Berw. N. Club, ii. 169. Jvme. 



140. T. SCABRUM. Rare. D. Rocky banks near the Priory of 

 Holy-Island, and by the shore at the harbour. 



141. T. FRAGiFERUM. On a light soil liable to be inundated; 

 and hence common on the sides of our rivers where flat. It abounds 

 in many places along the Whiteadder, and the Tweed. Autumn. 



142. T. PROCUMBENS. Dry gravelly fields and. banks, common. 

 June-July. 



143. T. MINUS. In similar localities with the preceding, and more 



* " Many years ago, ere George the Third was king, a girl who lived 

 near Nether Witton, returning home from milking, with her pail upon her 

 head, saw many fairies gambolling in the fields, but which were invisible 

 to her companions, though pointed out to them by her. On reaching home, 

 and telling what she had seen, the circumstance of her power of vision being 

 greater than tliat of her companions was canvassed in tlie family, and the 

 cause at length discovered in lier weise, which was found to be of foiu- 

 leaved clover." Borderer's Table Book, viii. p. 46. 



