588 THE FAKMERS' HANDBOOK. 



Burr Medics or Trefoils. 



The Burr Medics or trefoils are very heavy seeders, and owing to the 

 manner in which the burrs are carried aboxit by sheeep are now distributed 

 throughout the length and breadth of the State. Again, as the burrs 

 contain up to eight seeds in a pod, the plants form a dense mass of vegeta- 

 tion under conditions satisfactory for the germination of the seed. The 

 tough pod acts as a protection to the enclosed seed and supplies the neces- 

 sary moisture during the germination period. Although sheep have now 

 become accustomed to the Burr trefoils in the wheat-growing districts, 

 exceptional cases of " bloat " have been known to occur. Bloat is most likely 

 when the plants are wet, and when the stock are hungry. Pastoralists who 

 are desirous of introducing the Burr trefoils in their pastures sometimes 

 encounter difficulty in getting the seed to germinate satisfactorily. Such 

 faulty germination is due to the hard nature of many of the seed-coats. 

 Most of these seeds will, however, eventually germinate, though the time 

 taken to do so will vary. It is also necessary that the soil should possess the 

 requisite bacteria for the growth of the plant. When these are absent in the 

 required proportion inoculation of the soil is necessary. 



English Trefoil (Medicago lupulina). 



This variety is also commonly called Yellow trefoil, Hop trefoil, or Black 

 Medic. It is found growing spontaneously in pastures and fallowed lands 

 throughout the State, but is only abundant on the cold tablelands. In New 

 England it is perhaps more common than elsewhere, and provides a fair 

 amount of winter feed. It is well adapted to heavy rich soils in cold dis- 

 tricts, and provides good bottom herbage where other clovers are not too 

 good. It is much better adapted to grazing than mowing, and can only be 

 recommended for cold localities where other clovers will not thrive. 



Burr Trefoil or Burr Medic (Medicago denticulata) . 



This plant is most commonly called trefoil or Burr trefoil, but sometimes 

 Burr Medic and Toothed Burr clover. It is one of the commonest and most 

 abundant plants growing in New South Wales, and often succeeds in 

 dominating the whole of the vegetation in the wheat-growing districts 

 during the cool months of the year. Its distribution practically coincides 

 with the progress of the plough, and outside the wheat-belt it becomes 

 scarce. It will not grow well where the winters are too long, or where the 

 mean temperatures of September and October are below 52 and 60 degrees 

 Fah. respectively, and its best growth is on the stiff or alluvial soils of the 

 flats. On river flats and on the black-soil plains this trefoil has entirely dis- 

 placed the original native pastures. 'Such country is often termed " trefoil 

 country." The growth of such trefoil in the warm months of the year is so 

 abundant that the ordinary number of sheep carried on the farm cannot 

 keep it eaten down. If all this feed were properly utilised there is no 

 doubt that it would more amply serve the grazier's needs than the original 

 native pastures. The trefoil, however, has a short life. Under ordinary 

 conditions it commences .growth in the autumn, and seeds about Septmber 

 or October. After this burrs are left in great abundance on the ground, 

 sometimes as many as 1,500 per square yard, and these burrs provide the 

 main source of feed during the summer months on ground often absolutely 

 destitute of vegetation. If the trefoil were conserved as ensilage much more 

 could be obtained from it, and probably less trouble would ensue from 

 " burry " wool. 



