No. 144] 619 



Jilsyke, 0/- i9iwe(iwA doyer, (Trifolium hybridum) fromEnglandj 

 believed to have originated in the south of Sweden, where it is 

 particularly abundant. It is best adapted to moist and strong 

 soils, and has the property of self sowing, when the flowers are 

 left to mature, which will cause it to endure for fifteen, 

 twenty, or more years. The usual course to pursue, is to 

 cut it once a year for hay, afterwards leaving it for pastur- 

 age. Its flowers, which put forth in June, in great profu- 

 sion, resemble in shape those of the common white clover, but are 

 larger and of a rosy tint, of a sweet, agreeable odor, and afford an 

 excellent forage for bees. It may be sown with autumn or spring 

 grain; with the latter it is preferable, to prevent winter killing. 



Suckling Red clover^ (Trifolium filiforme,) from England. 



Perennial Ray grass, (Solium perenne,) two varieties, from 

 England, the "Italian" and the "Improved." The former is 

 said to be distinguished from the common Ray-grass of England, 

 by its earlier maturity, larger leaves, deeper green color, and by 

 the greater height to which it grows. It is usually sown in 

 autumn, as is the general practice with grass seeds in the south of 

 Europe. After the field is harrowed, it is sow^n, at the rate of 

 from sixteen to eighteen pounds to the acre, and the seed rolled 

 in. In the following autumn, the turf is covered like an old 

 meadow, and the crop of the next year is more than double. It 

 may also be sown in spring. It is eaten greedily -by cattle, 

 whether green or dry, and yields fifty per cent of hay. 



The " Improved Ray grass " possesses several desirable proper- 

 tie>, which recommends itself to the attention of cultivators, the 

 principal of which are, its adap'.ation to a great variety of soilsj 

 the facility with which it is propagated, by reason of its seeds 

 being produced in abundance, and their uniformity in ripening, 

 and, the fibrous structure of its roots, which fit it in an eminent 

 degree for alternate husbandry. Notwithstanding all these good 

 qualities, its culture in the middle and southern portions of the 

 Union, at least, should be entered into with caution, from the 

 great heats and summer droughts. Again, at the extreme north, 

 there is danger from the winter frost. 



