THE SELECTION OF GRASSES AND CLOVERS. 90 



hottest weather, when Red Clover gives up from drought. This 

 penetratmg habit also affords a means of sustenance to the plant 

 on land which is too poor to grow Broad Clover, and makes it 

 desirable to increase the proportion of tliis seed for pastures on 

 thin uplands. 



Perennial Eed Clover has two characteristics wliich greatly 

 augment its value : it does not beLnn to flower until at least 

 ten days later than Broad Clover, and its more robust and solid 

 stems remain succulent and eatable by stock long after Broad 

 Clover has become pithy and withered. Perennial Red Clover 

 fills up the gap between the first and second cuttings of Broad 

 Clover, coming into use at a time when there is no other 

 avaUable green food for the horses of the farm, but it rarely 

 gives a second crop of any consequence. 



Cow Grass produces comparatively little seed from its single 

 crop ; whereas Red Clover }■ ields a good crop of seed from the 

 second cutting, after the first has been taken as fodder. For these 

 reasons seed of the perennial variety is necessarily high in price. 



It is worth noting tliat Cow Grass is understood on Mark 

 Lane, and in manj^ parts of England, to mean no more than 

 a fine handsome sample of Broad Red Clover. The true Per- 

 ennial Red Clover is rarely obtainable except from those who 

 make its culture a study. And, just as all Rye Grass has been 

 condemned because the annual variety has been used where only 

 the perennial kind should have been employed, so true Cow 

 Grass — TrifoUum pratense pereime — has been disparaged because 

 Broad Clover has been called by its name and supplied as the 

 genuine article. 



AVlien Mr. Jenkins was in Flanders on his tour with Mr. 

 Howard some years ago, he found that this Perennial Clover was 

 relied on as the chief soihng crop, and was used in exactly the 

 same way as in the English counties I have named. So far as I 

 am aware, however, true Belgian Cow Grass is ne\er offered in 

 this country, and if it were offered there would be the risk of its 

 being foul. 



