HOW TO GltOW GOOD CLOVER. 127 



where sown, one plant drawing up another, we know 

 from experience, but we have little faith in any 

 very superior qualities being found in plants that can 

 grow so well under extremely poor conditions of soil ; 

 still it is just possible that its herbage may improve 

 in quantity and quality by liberal treatment ; yet we 

 must conclude that, as we already possess much better 

 plants for growing on better soils, we do not think 

 much can be gained by its cultivation. 



As a plant for hay it will yield a good cut, but its 

 extreme hairyness and general want of what the 

 farmer calls " proof" will never allow this plant to be 

 extensively grown. 



III. Lotus — Bird's-foot Trefoil. 



This plant is well known by its loosely-packed 

 heads of bright yellow flowers, which are succeeded 

 by long slender pods, dark-coloured or even black 

 when ripe, and not inaptly likened to a crow's foot ; 

 and hence the name " Crowsfoot " which it commonly 

 bears. We have three species, as follow : — 



1. Lotus corniculatus — Common Bird's-foot Trefoil 

 — is common, especially in dry meadows, in which its 

 herbage is duly appreciated by sheep and cattle, if one 

 may judge from the pertinacity with which it is kept 

 down. It is no bad adjunct to the rick. We are so 

 convinced of its value as always to recommend its 

 use in the laying down of light land for permanent 

 pasture, and a little seed sown in old meadows 

 after a dressing of rubbish — old mortar, town refuse, 

 &c. — will tend greatly to the improvement of the 

 herbage 



2. Lotus tenuis — Slender-leaved Bird's-food Tre- 

 foil — is, perhaps, only a variety of the former ; it is, 



m 2 



