INSECTS INFESTING IT. 127 



In Belgium and Holland, where this class of parasite is 

 very abundant, the only effectual way of getting clear of 

 it is to steep the clover seed in a weak alkaline solution, 

 to separate it from the Orobanche, which is supposed to 

 be attached to the clover by a fluid of an oily nature, 

 and this latter floats on the top, and is carried off as the 

 water is poured away. 1 Two weeds very commonly met 

 with in clover fields, the common heal-all Prunella 

 vulgaris and the' Bartsia odontttis, are also charged 

 with exerting a similar injurious action on the roots of the 

 clover plants. 



The clover crop is infested by a numerous variety of 

 insects, which destroy not only the herbage but the seed 

 produce also ; indeed, Curtis says that the clovers and 

 artificial grasses are the nurseries of those myriads of 

 flies, gnats, beetles, &c., which disperse, and, settling in 

 the fields, carry with them blight and destruction. The 

 amount of injury the crops suffer from them cannot be 

 properly estimated. The farmer finds his crop thin and 

 the leaves riddled ; this is the work of a weevil, which 

 will pay a visit eventually to his bean or his pea crop. 

 His seeds fail, not yielding a tithe of the expected amount. 

 Let him spread a white napkin .011 the ground, and shake 

 and beat the clover-heads, and he will find the destroyer 

 in myriads, probably in the shape of a little black weevil 

 with a long pointed nose. There are also various cater- 

 pillars feeding on the foliage, which are less destructive, 

 because they are less numerous, from their being kept 

 under, in all probability by parasitic flies. The leaves of 

 the plants, especially in their early growth, are liable to 

 the depredations of slugs and snails, which have already 

 been described at page 385, vol. i. The remedies there re- 

 commepded broadcasting soot, salt, or lime, or all mixed 

 together are equally serviceable here. Nitrate of soda is 



1 U Agriculture Pratique de la Fiandre. J. L. Van Aelbroeok. p. 233. 



