220 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBUIINENSIS. 



Ibs. per Acre 

 Ibs. in one Year. 



At the time of flowering, affords of nutritive 

 matter from the produce of one acre of a 

 clayey loam 1861-j 



From the produce of latter-math, taken at 2791 



two different times - 9303 



The cow-grass (Trifolium medium), as above, 



Affords of nutritive matter, from the produce 

 at the time of flowering 717") 



From the produce of latter-math, at two 1387 



different cuttings - 670 3 



The weight of nutritive matter, in which the produce 

 of one acre of the Trifolium pratense, (broad- 

 leaved cultivated clover), exceeds that of the cow- 

 grass is - 1404 



In regard to produce, therefore, the biennial-rooted clover is 

 superior to the perennial in the proportion nearly of 2 to 1. As a 

 plant for the alternate husbandry, the broad-leaved cultivated clover 

 will evidently be preferred ; but for permanent pasture the cow- 

 clover (Trifolium medium) must of necessity have the preference. 

 The quantity of nutritive matter contained in the herbage of the 

 broad-leaved clover is somewhat greater than in the herbage of the 

 cow-clover, proportionally, according to my experiments, as 10 to 9. 

 The constituent parts of the nutritive matters of the plants are 

 nearly alike, only the broad-leaved clover contains nearly three per 

 cent, more of the bitter extractive and saline matters than are con- 

 tained in an equal weight of the cow-clover. This species likewise 

 contains much less superfluous moisture than the former, and is in 

 consequence more quickly and safely converted into hay ; for it is 

 evident the difficulty of making good hay is in direct proportion 

 to the quantity of superfluous moisture any herbage may contain. 

 The comparative fitness of the different grasses for making into 

 hay, which have already come under observation, with those that 

 follow, may therefore be ascertained by the statements which are 

 given of the loss of weight which each species sustains in drying 

 at the different stages of growth. 



The value of the cow-clover has been disputed ; but it seems 

 probable that any doubt as to its merits may have arisen from 



