40 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



or refuse. As a fodder plant, the Clover is very much esteemed by all farmers, and, 

 according to Loudou, one acre is equal to three of ordinary pasture for feeding horses 

 or black cattle, and the hay is reckoned more valuable by from 15 to 20 per cent, 

 than the same weight yielded by the best meadow-laud. 



In feeding cattle with green Clover, great care must be observed to prevent the 

 swelling or hoving, which is very apt to take jdace when they are first put upon tliis 

 lood, especially if it be wet with rain or dew ; and the more luxuriant the Clover the 

 greater is this danger. After being accustomed to this rich food for a few days, during 

 which it should be given s])aringly, the danger is less ; but it is never safe to allow 

 milch-cows to eat large quantities of wet clover. The Red Clover appears to have 

 been introduced into English agriculture first in the year 16-15, by Sir Kichard 

 "Weston, -who had observed its large and successful cultivation in Belgium. It appears 

 to have been grown on the Continent long before this time, the absence of the fine 

 natural pastures which we possess having led the French and German agi-iculturists 

 to encourage the growth of those ])lants which would form their best substitute. 

 Owing to the moisture of our climate, it is somewhat difBcult to obtain a supply of 

 clover-seed, and much that we use is imported from Belgium and Holland. The seeds 

 and dry flowers of the Bed Clover, like those of the white species, have been occasionally 

 used as a substitute for flour in bread-making, and those of all the native species might 

 possibly be so employed. 



SPECIES III.— TRIP O LIU M MEDIUM, linn. 

 Plate CCCXLVIII. 



Kootstock with slender elongated branches. Stems ascending 

 or decumbent, flexuous, mostly bi'anched. Leaves distant ; leaf- 

 lets oblong-elliptical, generally apiculate and not emarginate at 

 the apex, entire on the margins. Stipules herbaceous, with a few 

 nerves which do not anastomose, adnate for half their length, 

 the free portion elongated, linear-triangular, not applied to the 

 petiole. Uppermost leaves generally opposite, a little way below 

 the flower-head, with slightly dilated stipules. Flower-heads shortly 

 stalked, sub-globular. Calyx-tube 10-nerved, nearly glabrous 

 exteriorly, without a callous ring, but with a ring of hairs in the 

 throat ; teeth very slender, subulate-setaceous, with a slender 

 central nerve, the 4 upper ones a little shorter than the cah'x- 

 tube, the lower one exceeding it by about one-third; becoming 

 spreading, but undergoing very little alteration in size in fruit. 

 Corolla twice as long as tlie calyx. Plant sub-glabrous, with the 

 margins of the leaflets ciliated. 



In bushy places, by roadsides, rocks, and meadows. Common 

 in the North of England and Lowlands of Scotland, but less so 

 towards the two extremities of the island. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer 



and Autumn. 



