Five-leaved Clover 347 



was able to introduce a new and far more easy- 

 mark, afforded by the seedlings, for my selec- 

 tions. This mark has since remained constant, 

 and has brought about a rapid continuance of 

 the improvement, without necessitating such 

 large cultures. 



This seedling in the various species of 

 clover usually begins with a first leaf above 

 the cotyledons of a different structure from 

 those that follow. It has only one blade 

 instead of three. But in my variety the in- 

 crease of the number of the leaflets may extend 

 to these primary organs, and make them binate 

 or even temate. Now it is obvious that an indi- 

 vidual, which begins with a divided primary 

 leaf, will have a greater tendency to produce a 

 large number of supernumerary leaflets than a 

 plant which commences in the ordinary way. 

 Or in other words, the primary leaves afford a 

 sure criterion for the selection, and this selec- 

 tion may be made in the seed-pans. In conse- 

 quence, no young individual with an undivided 

 primary leaf was planted out. Choosing the 

 20 or 30 best specimens in the seed-pan, no 

 further selection was required, and the whole 

 lot could be left to cross-fertilization by insects. 

 The observation of this distinguishing mark 

 in the young seedlings has led to the discover}^ 

 of another quality as a starting-point for fur- 



