3(i8 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Puh. Doc. 



Siveet Venu/J. — This grass, also known as fTune grass in 

 some sections, is characterized by the most delightful fra- 

 grance (especially after wilting) of any of our common 

 species of grass. Much poetical license in reference to its 

 influence upon the quality of dairy products has been based 

 upon this fact. In [)lain prose, it must be stated that this is 

 one of the least valuable of the species commonly found in 

 mowings. It does not appear to be especially palatable to 

 cattle, nor is it known to exercise any especially favorable 

 influence upon the flav^or of dairy })roducts. This species 

 comes into moAvings on the lighter soils or in dry seasons on 

 heavier soils, and gradually displaces the more valuable tim- 

 othy and redtop. There are two varieties, so-called peren- 

 nial and the annual. The latter seems to have absolutely 

 nothing to recommend it ; while even the perennial sweet 

 vernal should never, in the opinion of the writer, be included 

 in mixtures of seeds for our mowino-s. 



»■ 



The Comjion Clovers described. 



There arc l)ut four clovers of recognized value in our 

 mowings and pastures, — common red, mammoth red, the 

 alsike and the white. 



Con/nion lied Clover and MaminotJt lied Glover. — These 

 species, which are in general well known, closely resemble 

 each other in general habit. Between typical specimens of 

 the two there are well-defined diftcrences ; but the species 

 seem to run together by insensible gradations, and the prod- 

 uct of connnercial samples of seed sold under the two names 

 is often ii\distinguishable even by experts. The most im- 

 portant recognized diflferenccs l)etween typical specimens 

 are the following : the leaflet of the red clover is relatively 

 broad, not very hairy, and has a whitish, ap})roximately 

 crescent-shaped mark on the upper surface. The leaflet of 

 the mannnoth clover is relatively narrow, elliptical, more 

 hairy than in the common red, and is without the whitish 

 mark. The mammoth clover is somewhat coarser and taller 

 than the common red, and a little later in coming into 

 flower. It is therefore looked upon as being somewhat bet- 

 ter suited for use in mixture with timothy and redtop than 

 is the conunon red, which is usually })ast the best stage of 



