324 



THE ROOTS OF RED CLOVER. 



For a long time it was propagated by scattering the seed in 

 the chaff with all the weeds and rubbish, as it accumulated at 

 the stack or barn. 



Extent of Roots. Red clover usually has a large tap root, 

 with numerous branches extending in all directions. Sometimes 

 the tap root is short and soon equaled by its branches. These 

 roots rarely ever extend less than two feet below the surface, as 

 in moist, compact land, or where the surface is very rich. 

 Where the subsoil is at all open and inclined to be dry, it is not 

 unusual for the roots of clover to reach down six feet or more 

 below the surface; however, the main bulk of the roots are 

 usually within a foot of the surface. Various experiments and 

 careful estimates have shown that fully one-half the weight of a 

 clover plant is below the ground in the form of roots. 



Concerning the stems and leaves I shall speak more in detail 

 in the paragraph which treats of variations of the plant. 



The Flower. The flower is irregular, papilionaceous and its 

 structure rather difficult to understand without considerable study 

 of specimens or good illustrations. I take pleasure in reproduc- 

 ing the excellent illustrations of Hermann Miihler, as found in 

 his Fertilization of Flowers. ' 



FIG. 129. 



