122 THE CLOVER CROP. 



vigorously all around them. These spots are occasioned 

 by the existence of a curious parasitic plant, the " clover 

 dodder" Cuscuta trifolii which attaches itself to the 

 clover, feeds upon its juices, and thus depriving it of its 

 own means of supporting itself, the plant speedily is killed. 

 This pest is generated from seeds like our ordinary plants, 

 and is no doubt sown down in the field with the clover 

 and grass seeds, among the former of which it is frequently 

 found mixed to a greater or less extent. It appears to 

 remain in the soil without germinating for a longer period 

 than the clover, as it is rarely seen exhibiting its charac- 

 teristic effects until the straw crop has been harvested and 

 the young clover been exposed to the air and light. Its 

 habit, and growth, and mode of attack have been well ob- 

 served, though, from the recent discussions already alluded 

 to, the practical farmers who suffer most from its visita- 

 tion seemed to be but very imperfectly acquainted with 

 its nature. The plant, which is usually sown with the 

 clover, especially where foreign seed has been used, com- 

 mences its existence like any other plant : the seed germi- 

 nates, sending its radicles downwards into the soil, and a 

 shoot of a thread-like nature upwards above its surface. 

 At this period of its life it is not a parasite, but derives 

 its food from the soil by means of its roots, as other plants. 

 It cannot, however, carry on this existence long; and if it 

 does not meet with some congenial plant to which to 

 attach itself, it speedily withers and dies. If it succeeds 

 in doing this, it protrudes a sucker, which, coiling round 

 the plant and forming fresh suckers as it grows, extends 

 out in all directions and envelopes every plant within its 

 reach. No sooner has it firmly fixed itself upon any part 

 of a plant than it has a new and perfectly independent 

 seat of life ; and as it is incessantly coiling and separating 

 and attaching itself again, a single plant is speedily in 

 the condition of a polype; so that, if it be cut into a 



