222 HORTUS GRAMTNEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



Last summer, when examining the rich grazing lands in Lincohi- 

 shire, I found this plant to be more prevalent than any other spe- 

 cies of clover. In the clayey districts, and in soils of a peaty 

 nature, this species of clover was more conspicuous than in the 

 alluvial soils. The natural appearance of this plant in these cele- 

 brated pastures is such as to recommend it strongly for cultivation. 

 It being strictly perennial and the root only slightly creeping, it 

 may be used for the alternate husbandry, for which the Trifolium 

 medium is inadmissable on account of its creeping roots con- 

 stituting- what in arable lands is termed twitch. The seed of this 

 valuable clover should tirst be collected from plants in those valu- 

 able pastures near Skegness, where it abounds ; and from this a 

 stock of plants to increase the supply of seed for general farm 

 practice might soon be obtained. 



The nutritive powers of this species are superior to those of the 

 Trifolium medium, in the proportion of 10 to 9. At the time 

 of flowering, 64 dr. of tlie herbage of the Trifolium prateme perenne 

 afforded 2 dr. 2 qr. of nutritive matter. It thrives better when 

 combined with other grasses than when cultivated by itself; but 

 this, indeed, is also the case with all the valuable grasses. The 

 Trifolium medium, the Cynosurus cristatus, Lolium perenne, Alope- 

 curus pratensis, Avena Jiavesceus, Hordeum pratense, Poa trivialis, 

 Holcus avenaceus, Poa pratensis, Tr folium repens, TIolcus lanatus, and 

 Festuca pratensis, were the grasses among which I found this peren- 

 nial red clover to flourish, in the clayey and alluvial soils in Lincoln- 

 shire. The slightly creeping root remains permanent in the experi- 

 mental garden, while the roots of the common broad-leaved clover 

 have almost disappeared in the third season from sowing. For per- 

 manent pasture, therefore, this variety is the only proper one to cul- 

 tivate, for disappointment will be found a certain follower of the 

 broad-leaved clover, when sown with the intention of constituting a 

 part of any permanent pasture. The figure and description will en- 

 able the Farmer to decide whether the variety of red clover he culti- 

 vates be the true perennial species. For clayey and peaty soils, and 

 for loams, this variety is doubtless superior to the Trifolium medium 

 or cow-grass, and to any other variety of red clover at present 

 known for the purposes of permanent pasture ; but for soils of 

 a drier nature and lighter texture, the Trifolium medium offers 

 greater advantages. 



