348 TRIFOLIUM REPENS. WHITE CLOVER. 



When ripe it shells more easily than red clover, and is more 

 apt to waste, hence more care is needed in the harvesting. 



Trifolium repens, L. White or Dutch Clover. A smooth 

 perennial ; stems creeping and rooting at the joints. Stipules 

 small, narrow, accnminate; petioles 2-4 in., leaflets obovate or 

 obcordate, obcurely toothed, often with a light mark towards 

 the base. Heads, or close umbels, 1 in. diam. ; peduncles 3-8 

 in. Flowers white or rosy, .pedicels reflexed after flowering. 

 Pod 46 seeded. In pastures of Europe, Russian Asia, N. Africa, 

 India, N. America, at the North. This is the Shamrock of the 

 modern Irish. 



The following, from Wm. Gorrie, gives a fair notion of its es- 

 timate among the farmers of England: " It has long been al- 

 most universally sown for pastures, but many consider its merits 

 highly over-rated ; for although it makes a great display on fa- 

 vorite soils, yet it is neither fattening nor cared for by stock 

 when they have a sufficient choice of pasturage. No attempt has 

 been made to secure improved varieties." 



Below follows the opinion of Dr. S. A. Knapp, of Iowa, who 

 says : " It nourishes when the true grasses wither ; it appears to 

 defy equally poverty of soil, cold, excessive moisture or extreme 

 drought. It is perennial, which gives it a great advantage over 

 red clover, and renders it an almost necessary substitute where 

 close grazing is practiced. It is extremely hardy, and turns its 

 sprightly green leaves to the lingering snows of spring and stoutly 

 resists the sharp frosts of approaching winter. It resists drought 

 with true clover stubbornness, and thrives in the slough or upon 

 the knoll with almost equal vigor. It furnishes a large amount 

 of highly nutritive material. It has more protein and more fat 

 than red clover. In flesh-forming material it is nearly 20 per 

 cent, richer than blue grass. The product is about eight tons of 



FIG. 132.- Trifolium hj/bridwm, L. (Alsike Clover,) a, part of a plant; e, a flower en- 

 larged.-(Sudworth.) 



