936 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK x. 



, YELLOW SUCKLING CLOVER (Trifolium minus, Sm.), sometimes called 

 lesser yellow trefoil, is a small annual yellow-flowered species, of some- 

 what slender habit. It has an appearance not unlike that of yellow 

 trefoil (Medicago lupulina), but its flower-stalks are more slender. 

 The trefoil, moreover, has a black seed-pod, and the whole plant is hairy, 

 neither of which characters is true of the yellow suckling. Trifolium 

 minus is often grown with rye-grass, in association with which it makes 

 excellent hay, especially on adhesive land. It produces abundance of 

 seed, and, if left untouched till after midsummer, is self-seeding. 



MARL CLOVER (Trifolium medium, L.), sometimes found in old pas- 

 tures, is the cowgrass or zigzag clover of botanists. It is very rarely 

 cultivated, but springs up spontaneously on marly soils. It should never 

 be sown, as its lateral extension underground is extremely rapid, and 

 when once introduced upon land it is almost impossible to get rid of it. 



BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL (Lotus corniculatus, L.) is a native of chalk and 

 other limestone districts, and thrives on dry sandy soils. Its head of 

 bright yellow flowers, red when in bud, is very beautiful, and, after 

 flowering, the pods spread out like a bird's foot. It is a smooth plant, 

 and is readily eaten by cattle and sheep. The nodules (see page 1022) 

 concerned in the acquisition of atmospheric nitrogen by leguminous 

 plants are readily seen upon the roots of this plant. 



TREFOIL or YELLOW CLOVER (Medicago lupulina, L.). This is not of 

 the same genus as the clovers already discussed, but its cultivation and 

 appearance are such as to permit of its being included among them in 

 an agricultural work. It does not possess the high feeding properties 

 of the true clovers that have been described, and in some districts is 

 considered little better than a weed. In other localities, especially on 

 the thin chalk soils, it is frequently sown in conjunction with other 

 seeds for short leys. It springs up spontaneously on many thin soils, 

 especially on sandy loams. In newly laid down pastures it is almost 

 always present, and grows freely during the period when the land is in 

 very poor condition from the third to the tenth year in ordinary cases. 

 When the pasture begins to form a rich turf it is gradually displaced 

 by white clover, and Sir John Lawes has stated that he takes this 

 circumstance as the barometer of the condition of his new pastures. 

 When the trefoil has disappeared he considers his turf possesses the 

 desirable characteristics of an old pasture. It cannot be recommended 

 as a crop on good land, as much heavier and more nutritious crops of 

 other clovers can be grown in its place. On thin soils which do not 

 support heavy crops of the better clovers it is found to be useful when 

 sown in a mixture to produce short leys. The name of Black Medick, 

 by which this plant is also known, refers to its head of black spiral 

 seed-pods, easily noticeable in the late summer months. Medicago 

 lupulina is often called " hop " by farmers. 



LUCERNE (Medicago sativa, L.) was introduced into British hus- 



