HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



Last summer, when examining the rich grazing lands in Lincoln- 

 shire, I found this plant to be more prevalent than any other spe- 

 cies of clover. In the clayey districts, and in soils of a peaty 

 nature, this species of clover was more conspicuous than in the 

 alluvial soils. The natural appearance of this plant in these cele- 

 brated pastures is such as to recommend it strongly for cultivation. 

 It being strictly perennial and the root only slightly creeping, it 

 may be used for the alternate husbandry, for which the Trifolium 

 medium is inadmissible on account of its creeping roots con- 

 stituting what in arable lands is termed twitch. The seed of this 

 valuable clover should first be collected from plants in those valu- 

 able pastures near Skegness, where it abounds ; and from this a 

 stock of plants to increase the supply of seed for general farm 

 practice might soon be obtained. 



The nutritive powers of this species are superior to those of the 

 Trifolium medium, in the proportion of 10 to 9. At the time 

 of flowering, 64 dr. of the herbage of the Trifolium pratense perenne 

 afforded 2 dr. 2 qr. of nutritive matter. It thrives better when 

 combined with other grasses than when cultivated by itself; but 

 this, indeed, is also the case with all the valuable grasses. The 

 Trifolium medium, the Cynosuruscristalus, Lolium perenne, Alope- 

 curus pratensis, Avenajiavescens, Hordeum pratense, Poa trivialis, 

 Holcus avenaceus, Poa pratensis, Trifolium repens, Holcus lanatus, 

 and Festuca pratensis, were the grasses among which I found this pe- 

 renial red clover to flourish, in the clayey and alluvial soils in Lin- 

 colnshire. The slightly creeping root remains permanent in the ex- 

 perimental garden, while the roots of the common broad-leaved clo- 

 ver have almost disappeared in the third season from sowing. For 

 permanent pasture, therefore, this variety is the only proper one to 

 cultivate, for disappointment will be found a certain follower of 

 the broad-leaved clover, when sown with the intention of constituting 

 a part of any permanent pasture. The figure and description will 

 enable the Farmer to decide whether the variety of red clover he 

 cultivates be the true perennial species. For clayey and peaty soils, 

 and for loams, this variety is doubtless superior to the Trifolium 

 medium or cow-grass, and to any other variety of red clover at pre- 

 sent known for the purposes of permanent pasture ; but for soils of 

 a drier nature and lighter texture, the Trifolium medium offers 

 greater advantages. 



