HOW TO GROW GOOD CLOVER. 119 



Dutch clover is a valuable pasture plant either 

 in meadows or in seeds. In the former it is much 

 increased by the addition of nitrates, soot, &c, with 

 guano or superphosphate. As a plant, in seed mix- 

 tures, it is usually sown with other trifoliate plants 

 and rye grasses, but if the soil be very light the 

 Dutch clover may be increased or wholly used. 



7 . TrifoliumfiUforme — Small Yellow Clover — is one 

 of the least of our small yellow-flowered division. 

 It is a common native species occurring on the way- 

 sides, and has been brought into cultivation to only a 

 limited extent, under the impression that its small 

 herbage is suitable as a first bite for young stock, and 

 hence the term " suckling clover " has been applied 

 to it. It is of little value, and does not seem capable 

 of being greatly improved. This species is often 

 mistaken for the following, even by pretended botan- 

 ists, but its lax head of smaller flowers will well 

 distinguish it. 



8. Trifolium procumbens is called by the botanist 

 " Hop Trefoil," from the fact that its dried head of 

 persistent flowers* exactly resembles small bunches of 

 hop strobiles (fruiting heads). The foliage is much 

 like that of Medicago lupulina, nonsuch, or black 

 medick, which is the "hop" of the farmer; but the 

 whole plant of the true hop trefoil dries up so quickly 

 under the sunshine, and is withal so wanting in 

 succulency and quality, that it cannot be compared 

 with 31. lupulina as a fodder plant, and hence it is 

 but little cultivated in the present day. 



There are other clovers which have been recom- 



* Flowers are so called that remain enveloping the seed while it 

 ripens, which they do in all the clovers. 



