HORTUS GRAMIXEUS WOBU RNENSIS. 221 



using it instead of the Trifolium pratense (biennial red clover) in 

 the alternate husbandry, for which it seems unfit, or at least greatly 

 inferior to that species. But for permanent pasture on soils too 

 light for the Trifolium pratense perenne, its value is undoubtedly 

 considerable. 



It flowers about the beginning of July, and the general crop of 

 seed is ripe about the beginning of September.* 



TRIFOLIUM pratense perenne. Perennial Red Clover. 



Specific character. 



Obs. In the fertile grazing lands between Wainfleet and Skeg- 

 ness in Lincolnshire, this true perennial red clover is abun- 

 dant. An opportunity was afforded me to examine this species 

 very satisfactorily in its natural soil, when the plants were in 

 full blossom. The root is slightly creeping and extremely 

 fibrous ; in these points it differs essentially from the common 

 broad-leaved clover, the roots of which are almost spindle- 

 shaped, with comparatively few fibres. The common broad- 

 leaved clover is of a lighter green colour, has fewer hairs on 

 the stem and leaves, and grows more upright. The botanical 

 discriminating characters are less obvious, indeed not suf- 

 ficient to make this plant more than a permanent variety of 

 Trifolium pratense. The sheaths are terminated with narrower 

 and longer points, which are set with longer hairs. The flower- 

 stalks, as shewn in our figure, are in general longer and more 

 slender, with an evident disposition to grow bent and flexuose. 

 The heads of flowers are less crowded with florets, although, 

 apparently to the sight, equally as large as the common cul- 

 tivated clover. When young, the flower-head has the appear- 

 ance of extreme woolliness or pubescence. 



* Hares and rabbits are very fond of this clover when cultivated on a rich soil. 

 Some plants of it were brought from a tenacious cold clayey soil, on the borders 

 of a wood and planted in the grass-garden on a rich loam, for the purpose of com- 

 paring it with the same species collected in a rich ancient pasture. I observed at 

 the time I took up the plants near the wood, that none of them seemed to have been 

 touched by these animals, which were the only animals that had access to the 

 herbage. But they preferred it throughout the whole season in the grass-garden to 

 almost every other grass or clover, and completely broke through a temporary fence 

 made specially for its protection, and disappointed my expectation in the results of 

 some particular experiments. 



