OF THE RED CLOVER. 281 



observed clover, by tins treatment, nipped over at the neck, 

 which must, in every case where this happens, prove fatal to 

 it ; but althoug'h it may not have sustained injury to this ex- 

 tent, still it is stripped of its leaves, and these, from the way 

 in which they come out from the stem, and spread around it, 

 are well adapted to afford the required protection to the stem 

 and root. It is true that the leaves tliemselves are often laid 

 prostrate by the severity of the frost ; but this only causes 

 them to fairaround the neck, and cling- more closely to it. We 

 would not be imderstood as condemning- all pasturing- of 

 young- grass, for this often proves a great convenience for 

 sheep ; and we have invariably found it an unfailing' antidote 

 to inflammation of the bowels, or hraxy — the disease to 

 which young- sheep are most subject ; but we most decidedly 

 condemn it when carried so far as to deprive the clover of all 

 protection. Upon the same pi*inciple, we also reg-ard the 

 practice of mowing- the grain crop with which the clover is 

 sown, as very hurtfid to the young- grasses. 



Having arrived at the knowledge of these facts, with 

 regard to the depth of clover and the depredations of insects, 

 we began in the following spring another set of ex]ieriments, 

 at the same time allowing all the clover plants of the pre- 

 vious year to remain in the ground, with the view of watching' 

 their future progress. We then set oft' a piece of ground, 

 10 feet square, and divided it into equal parts of a foot each j 

 400 clover seeds were then selected from Mr. Lawson's best 

 sample, one-half of wdiich were of the lighter yellow, and 

 the other half the dark purple-coloured variety; and the 

 yellow w^as sown in the one-half of the ground, and the 

 purple in the other, to ascertain if there was any difference 

 in their germination or durability in the ground ; but in both 

 respects there was scarcely any difference, the yellow, by a 

 few plants, having the advantage in germination. Four of 

 the selected seeds were planted in the centre of each foot of 

 the ground previously laid oft", with the intention of insuring 

 one plant in each division ; and as soon as the ])lants were 

 considered out of danger from insects, only one was left in 

 each space. Mostly all were in flower in September ; Init in 

 this respect there was considerable difference ; and all were 

 cut down by the end of the montli, that their treatment 

 might be similar to what they would have received if grown 

 with a crop. With the exception of six plants, they all 

 survived the winter, and we believe they were those which 

 were most advanced at the time of cutting, and after which 



