386 



FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



mum number found in any head was 140 for the first 

 crop, 150 for the second and 123 for the third. 



The ovary of red clover contains two ovules, but of 

 these usually only one matures. Good heads contain 

 from 16 to 40 seeds each, the average being about 25. In 

 exceptional plants, both ovules may develop. Records 

 have been published of heads containing 90 to 130 seeds 

 each. 



Beal in Michigan counted the seeds in 50 heads from 

 each of 6 plants, finding, respectively, 1260, 1275, 1640, 

 1485, 1820 and 2720 seeds. 



Hopkins at the West Virginia Experiment Station 

 found that 122 red clover heads of the first crop contained 

 6042 seeds, an average of over 49 seeds per head. 



Pammel has made numerous counts of seeds to the head 

 in Iowa. His results are tabulated as follows : 



RED CLOVER SEEDS TO THE HEAD FIRST AND SECOND CROPS 



IN IOWA 



The average number of seeds to a head is sometimes used 

 to estimate the probable yield of seed to an acre. If the 

 seeds average 25 to the head, and the stand is good, a 

 yield of one to two bushels to an acre may be expected. 



