33 



but the species seem to run together by insensible gradations, and the 

 product of commercial samples of seed sold under tiie two names is 

 often indistinguishable even by experts. The most important recognized 

 differences between typical specimens are the following: the leaflet of 

 the red clover is i-elatively broad, not very hairy, and has a whitish, ap- 

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

 the mammoth 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 some- 

 what better suited for use in mixture with timothy and redtop than is 

 the common red, which is usually past the best stage of development 

 for cutting before the timothy and redtop are ready, These clovers ai'e 

 rather short-lived perennials ; but, as was pointed out in my first paper 

 upon the hay crop, it is possible to produce hay in permanent mowings 

 in which these clovers will be fairly prominent indefinitely, and that 

 without reseeding ; for a portion of the heads in the rowen crop are 

 usually ripe before this crop is cut, and the seeds scattered from these 

 heads constantly renew these clovers. As. the older plants die, their 

 place in the mowings is taken by the young plants from these acciden- 

 tally scattered seeds. The persistence of these clovers in mowings, how- 

 ever, is dependent, as was pointed out in the earlier article, upon a 

 liberal supply of the mineral elements of plant food, especially lime, 

 phosphates and potash. 



Alsike Clover. — Alsike clover is intermediate in its characteristics 

 between the common red clover and white clover, having the erect habit 

 of growth of the I'ed clover, but the heads shaped like those of the white 

 are in color pink, — a blending of the red and white. Whether alsike 

 clover was originally produced as a hybrid between the red and the white 

 is not definitely known. Alsike clover is of much value in mowings, 

 especially upon the stronger and moister soils, where it is better than 

 the common red. It is considerably finer than the red, and therefore 

 cures more easily. It is of great value as a honey plant. According to 

 the writer's observation, however, it does not persist as long as the red, 

 neither does it produce as heavy a second crop. It should, however, be 

 included in mixtures of seeds for the stronger and moister soils, whei'e 

 hay including clover is desired. 



White Clover. — This well-known plant is not often included in mix- 

 tures of seeds for mowings. Its ci'eeping habit of growth renders it 

 rather unsuited to this use. It is, however, of much value in all jjer- 

 manent mowings, into which it comes naturally if the soils are adapted 

 to it, and if the mineral elements of plant food are abundantly supplied. 

 In such mowings it contributes largely to the product both in quantity 

 and in quality. It is, moreover, the most valuable of the clovers for 

 bees. 



Varying Mixtures of Seeds for Different Purposes. 



In the first article on this subject three mixtures of seeds were given, 

 and the conditions under which each should be used were briefly dis- 

 cussed. It was stated in that article that two of these seed mixtures 

 were under careful comparison in the Experiment Station in Amherst. 



The first of these mixtures, spoken of as the timothy mixture, was as 

 follows : — 



Per acre : — 



I'ouiuls. 



Timothy, • . 18 



Redtop, 8 



Mammoth clover, ........ ,5 



Alsike clover, . 4 



