AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 183 



The Crimson Clover (t.) is a native of the Southern and Central 

 parts of Europe. It is an annual, and must be sown in autumn that it 

 may flower and arrive at maturity in the following season. It has lat 

 terly attracted much attention in Eagland. The Egyptian clover (.; ,) 

 is also an annual. The other species are small, and unfit to be sown 

 alone, but are commonly mixed by the English with grasses, for which 

 purposes they are well adapted as varying the food, and filling up blank 

 spaces. They would be profitable with us in permanent pastures.* 



408. Red Clover prefers clayey soils ; it generally thrives in 

 good wheat lands ; in light and sandy ground it gets bare and 

 frosted. During its early growth it always requires the shelter of 

 some other plant. It is apt to be lifted out of the ground and 

 destroyed by frost in winter, if eaten bare, and not covered by 

 snow. White Clover grows spontaneously in most clay soils, 

 such as are known as &quot; heavy timbered lands ;&quot; appearing as 

 soon as the forest is removed. For sheep-pasture nothing can 

 surpass it; but it is usually rather short for larger stock. It 

 has a peculiar effect on horses in producing severe salivation 

 when in blossom, but without apparently injuring the health or 

 strength : why, does not appear to be ascertained. This, wo 

 believe, has not been observed in the European variety. 



409. The Red species are extensively grown throughout the 

 Northern United States, chiefly, however, in the moderate cli 

 mates. In wheat-culture, they are greatly depended upon as a 

 sort of manure. 



The difference between the annual Red Clover (a,) and Cow Grass (h,) it thus 

 given by a late English writer. (Farmer s Magazine, vol. iii., 1853, p. 424.) The 

 first has a somewhat spindle shaped root, with but few fibres, grows more upright, 

 has fewer hairs on the stem and leaves, thrives luxuriantly, stem generally hollow or 

 pipey, broad leaves, and reddish -purple flowers; the latter has a somewhat creeping 

 root, the stem grows zigzag and less globular than the other, and is solid or pithy, 

 with a narrow leaf which, with the flowers, hns a paler hue ; it comes into flower 

 from twelve to fourteen days later than the first.&quot; We do not remember ever meet 

 ing with the first in our Western States, where we are inclined to believe that our 

 ** large&quot; species is the Buffalo Clover. It is. however, very difficult to distinguish the 

 various species of this family. The California Clovers are spoken of u far surptssirg 

 any we at present cultivate in the Eastern portion of the continent. 



