MISCELLANEOUS VARIETIES OF CLOVER 323 



Alexandria, nor is its growth in Egypt supposed 

 to be of great antiquity, since no trace of it is found 

 upon the ancient monuments. 



The Muscowi variety, which is commonly grown 

 more especially in lower Egypt, sometimes grows 

 to the height of 5 feet and over, but usually it is 

 not more than half the height named. In its habit 

 of growth it is rather upright, like alfalfa, but the 

 hollow stems are softer and more succulent, and the 

 blossoms occur on heads resembling those of clover, 

 but not so compactly formed, and they are white in 

 color. The seeds bear a close resemblance to those 

 of crimson clover. The roots are much shorter, but 

 more spreading in their habit of growth than those 

 of alfalfa, and in Egyptian soils they bear small 

 tubercles abundantly. This variety, which is usu- 

 ally grown on land that can be irrigated at any sea- 

 son, produces in some instances 5 cuttings in a 

 season. The Fachl variety is usually grown on land 

 irrigated by the basin system; that is, the system 

 which covers the land with water but once a year, 

 and for a period more or less prolonged. But one 

 crop a year is taken from such land. The hay from 

 this variety is heavier for the bulk than that of the 

 Muscowi. The Saida variety is of a lower habit 

 of growth than the Muscowi and has a longer tap 

 root, which enables it to stand drought better than 

 the Muscowi. It is more commonly sown in Egypt 

 southward from Cairo. 



All these varieties are annual. The period of 

 growth covered by any one of them is never more 

 than 9 months, and usually not more than 6 months ; 



