122 HOW TO GROW GOOD CLOVER. 



5. Trifolium pratense perenne, sub-var. pallidum — Pale Perennial 

 Clover. — A larger plant than the parent form, and less hairy. 



6. Trifolium 2^at6nse perenne, sub-var. album — White Perennial 

 Clover. — Not common, but still, like 3, an albino form, and is, perhaps; 

 more delicate in constitution than the coloured sorts. 



Now, it appears to us that the descendants of the two 

 types, Trifolium pratense and T. medium (see Plate) 

 form the basis of the red or broad-leaved clover on 

 the one hand, and the perennial or cow-grass clover 

 on the other ; whilst the market varieties have, 

 perhaps, been modified by climate, soil, and probably 

 hybridization with other sorts. It may, indeed, be 

 that, after all, the plants described in chapter XVII. 

 as two distinct species are only varieties, for though 

 the common form of T. pratense grows everywhere 

 on mixed soils, the more sandy positions, as the sand- 

 stones connected with the coal in South Wales, offer 

 a greater abundance of the T. medium ; and, from 

 experiments conducted with seed of this latter 

 obtained from near Swansea, Glamorgan, and sown 

 on forest marble clay of the Cotteswolds, we cer- 

 tainly obtained plants differing very much from the 

 typical form of T. medium, and assuming the usual 

 broad-leaved clover variations. 



Here, then, is opened up a curious subject for 

 inquiry, which the history of the seed- trade as it 

 relates to clover- seed may tend in some measure 

 to elucidate. Some few years ago T. pratense and 

 T. medium were advertised as on sale by most 

 seedsmen ; in fact, the latter was the name by which 

 what is now called cow-grass clover was known. 

 Now, however, it is doubtful if any seedsman would 

 pretend to send out the T. medium; but the label 

 T. pratense perenne has been substituted for it. 



