94 THE CLOVER CROP. 



of the ordinary clovers. Although long known in this 

 country among gardeners as an ornamental border-flower, 

 its introduction to our farms as a field crop is quite of 

 recent date. The stem is upright and branched ; the leaflets 

 broad, nearly round, and with the stem covered with hairs 

 (see woodcut)-, the flower-stalk rises to some height above 

 the last leaves, and is surmounted by an oblong cylindrical 

 spike, tapering towards the top, and consisting of bright 

 scarlet or crimson coloured flowers, which give the crop a 

 very beautiful appearance. It is very extensively cultivated 

 in some of the southern districts in the country, especially 

 on the light chalk soils of the sheep-farming counties of 

 Hampshire, Berks, and Wilts. The practice is to sow it 

 down on the stubbles, immediately the field is cleared 

 the surface of the field being merely cut up by the " broad- 

 share," and the seed sown broadcast and harrowed in at 

 the rate of 12 Ibs. to 20 Ibs. per acre. Owing to its rapid 

 and vigorous growth, it gets firmly rooted in the soil 

 before the winter sets in, and in the spring it furnishes an 

 abundant supply of green food for the cattle ; or if allowed 

 to stand for a hay crop, it comes into flower early in June, 

 when it may be cut, and the field got ready for turnips or 

 any other of our fallowing crops. The produce per acre is 

 generally very satisfactory, and the hay as well as the 

 fresh herbage is generally relished by cattle. 



A late French variety of this species has been intro- 

 duced, and also another so-called species, to which the 

 name of T. Molineri has been given, but which probably 

 is only a permanent variety. This latter greatly resembles 

 the incarnatum in its general habit of growth ; its flowers, 

 however, are of a light pink, or French white colour, and 

 it arrives at maturity somewhat earlier. It is a favourite 

 in some parts of France and Switzerland. Besides these 

 species, which are met with in general cultivation in this 

 country, there are several others which have been from 



