FORAGE LEGUMINOS^ 291 



28,000 kilos; in the middle of November, 20,000; shortly after the 

 middle of February, 30,000; and at the end of May, 25,000. M. Trabut 

 states in his report on experiments in agricultural botany made in 

 Algeria during i8g8 that this plant grows the whole year round, and 

 only needs irrigating when a crop is wanted during the height of 

 summer. In winter, along the littoral and in the south, its growth is 

 very vigorous. 



Trifolium subrotundum — This plant is grown for fodder in the 

 North of Africa. 



Trifolium resupinatum — This clover is cultivated in the North of 

 India though it is hardly much of a forage plant. According to Naudin 

 it occurs in North Africa, the Canaries, the Azores, &c. 



The following varieties may be quoted : T . Arvense^ F. fragiferinii, 

 T . Steiiihicrij T. uuihelliilatuui , T . qiiartiniamiiin, T . acaitle, T. fro- 

 curnbenSj T. sinense, T. africanum, T. -polystachyitiiij &c. 



The most important of all is the red or field clover, Trifolium 

 ■pratejisc. 



It is a plant which is sown over a wide area and devoured by live 

 stock either in the green state or as hay. When used in the latter 

 state care must be taken in view of the mishaps that may occur if it is 

 wetted by rain or dew. In Australian experiments 7 to q\ tons of hay 

 have been obtained per hectare. Its composition was as follows, the 

 analysis of green fodder and hay being due to M. Guthrie : — 



IQO'O lOO'O 



Clover is, further, a first-class restorative plant for impoverished 

 soils. In England one speaks of " clover sickness," a malady which 

 is easily remedied by the addition of phosphate and of potash. It is 

 an established fact that this plant thrives well practically everywhere 

 and the amount of attention given will vary according to the particular 

 result required. It is biannual in habit and pastures resow themselves. 

 Clover is a great nitrogenous fertilizer for the raising of wheat on 

 medium soils, and in addition furnishes organic matter and opens the 

 soil by means of its roots. 



The seed is also eaten by cattle, that of the common variety being 

 the most readily accepted, as the American one is heavier. The 

 seed is an important article of commerce between America and Europe. 



M. Balland has analysed the various portions of the plant for 

 Europe : Twenty-six plants cut; maximum length 0*70 metres; weight 

 100 grm., of which the flowers were responsible for i7"30 grm. ; the 

 leaves i4'7o grm. ; stems 68'oo grm. 



