ST'-' 



1'HACTICE OF A OKI CULTURE 



Part III. 



•5522. The tpeaet ofctover in cultivation are: — 



5SS3 The red clover rrirbUum pratenae. to. 772. a), a biennial, and sometimes, especially on chalky 

 Mils, a triennial plant, known (tan the other species by its broad leaves, luxuriant growth, and reddish 

 purple Bowera. In kta wild itate ■■ perennial 



1 



773 



774 



5534. The while, or creeping, or Dutch clover {T. repens, b >), a perennial plant, known by its creeping 

 items ami white flowers. 



5525. The yellow clover, hop-trefoil, or shamrock clover, the black nonsuch of the Norfolk farmers 



(T. procumbens, c), an annual, known by its procumbent shoots 

 and yellow flowers. This species is seldom cultivated ; the yel- 

 low ilover of the seed shops being the Medicago lupiilina, the 

 lupuline, or minette done of the French. (Jig. 773.) 

 ■(SjilTi ) 3, m. flNH&Bh 5526. The meadow clover, cow-clover, cow-grass, or marl. 



~ TftteWe) j2fe> (MH M 7 $S grass, the first the best name {T. medium, rf), a perennial, re- 



sembling the red clover, hut of a paler hue, dwarfer habit, with 

 pale red or whitish flowers, and long roots very sweet to the 

 taste. This species is but partially cultivated, and it is ex- 

 tremely difficult to procure the seeds genuine. It comes into 

 flower from twelve to fifteen days later than the common red 

 clover, has a solid stalk, a narrower leaf, and both leaves and 

 i^iA t ^ / \M flowers have a paler hue. A poor sandy soil, it is said, will pro. 



d^/Kpfc^ir cluce a 8 00tl cro P of cow-clover that would not produce half a 



U \\ '-'IS \ crop of the common red clover ; it is also as good the second 



year as the first. Some farmers sow it because the crop comes 

 in between the first and second cutting of the red clover as 

 green food. 



*5527. The flesh-coloured clover (Trifdlium incarnatum Lin.; Farouche or Treflc de 

 Roussillon, Fr. Jig. 774.) has long been cultivated in some of the southern departments 

 of France, and, though an annual, is found very advantageous on 

 dry sandy soils. The Agricultural Society of Nancy have lately 

 recommended it for culture in the province of Lorraine; and a 

 writer in the Journal des Pays-Bas, as suitable to many parts of 

 the Netherlands. M. de Dombasle, a theoretical and practical 

 agriculturist in great estimation, sows it, after harvest, in the stubbles, 

 with no other culture than harrowing in. It grows all the winter, 

 and early in spring affords abundant food for sheep ; or, if left till 

 May, it presents a heavy crop for the scythe, and may be used for 

 soiling, or making into hay. (Gard. Mag. vol. iv. p. 392. and vol. v. 

 p. 734.) It was introduced into England about the year 1824, by 

 Mr. John Ellman, jun. of Southover, near Lewis, who gives directions 

 for sowing it in March without a corn crop, and states that it will 

 be in full bloom and fit to cut by June. He says it is very produc- 

 tive ; but should not be sown with corns like other clovers, because 

 it grows so fast as to choke them. (Farm. Jour. March 17. 1828.) 



5528. Trifblium Molinerxfiliforme (with yellow flowers'!, campestre (also with 

 yellow Bowers), andfragiferwm, are cultivated in France ; but we believe chiefly 

 on the poorer soils. Seeds of them and of all the other species may be correctly 

 obtained from VUmorin.Andrieuz and Co., seed merchants in l'aris. 



5529. In tile choice of sorts the red or broad clover is the kind most generally cultivated on land that 

 carries com and herbage crops alternately, as it yields the largest produce for one crop of all the sorts. 

 White ami yellow clover are seldom sown with it, unless when several years' pasturage is intended. 



The soil best adapted for clover is a dee]) sandy loam, which is favourable to its 



5530. 



be dry 



So congenial is cal- 



long tap-roots; but it will grow in any SOU, provided it he dry. 

 careous matters to clovers, that the mere strewing of lime on some soils will call into 

 action clover-seeds, which it would appear have lain dormant for ages. At least this 

 appears the most obvious way of accounting for the well known appearance of white 

 clover in such cases. 



55SI. Tlo' climate most suitable for the clovers is one neither very hot nor very dry 

 and cold. Most leguminous plants delight botli in a dry soil and climate, and warm 



