66 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES. 



the parent stem grows, the lateral and creeping shoots remaining 

 dormant. 



The character of the plant differs materially, according to the 

 soil on which it is grown. Sinclair remarks that 'it maintains 

 itself in soils of opposite natures,' because of its having fibrous 

 roots and a tap-root. It prospers on mellow land containing 

 lime, and on all soils rich in humus, from marl to gravel, or 

 gravelly clay. It does better in poor land, and is less sensitive to 

 atmospheric influences than Red Clover, and is of great import- 

 ance on land which cannot be depended on to grow Perennial 

 Red Clover. In early spring it produces very little food, and 

 the plant is so dwarf that it is practically useless for cutting, so 

 that Alsike should take its place for a crop of hay. Still, 

 Perennial White Clover forms an essential constituent of every 

 good pasture. All cattle eat it with relish, but it is less useful for 

 the production of milk tlian of flesh, and is of special service in 

 fattening sheep. No doubt the herbage is more palatable to 

 stock before the plant flowers than afterwards ; indeed, a pro- 

 fusion of flowers is no indication of an abundant bite. White 

 Clover is not suitable for culture alone, and its herbage is better 

 for cattle when mingled witli grasses, especially with Perennial 

 Rye Grass. The Norfolk farmers largely use it for ewes and 

 lambs, but from difference of climate the strong opinion they 

 entertain in its favour is not shared by practical men in the West 

 of En Ef land. 



The fecundation of White Clover is aided by insects From 

 ten flower heads visited by bees Darwin obtained ten times as 

 many seeds as from a corresponding number protected by gauze. 

 On a subsequent occasion he failed to obtain a single good seed 

 from twenty protected heads. 



Ammonia salts alone reduce the plant to insignificant pro- 

 portions. Nitrate of soda is little better in its effect. Both 

 these nitrogenous manures result in a smaller growth of Wliite 

 Clover than when the land is left unmanured. Mineral manures, 

 potash especially, with a small quantity of nitrate, considerably 



