108 





TrifoUum medium. Red Perennial Clover^ Cow-grass. 



Specifii 



Spikes loose, stems flexuose, branched; corollas nearly equal; 



sublate, linear. E. Bot. t. 190; W 



stipules 



Obs.— The common Broad-leaved Red Clover is distinguished from the present plant, Ly tli 

 spike vi^hich is supported on a foot-stalk ; the spike, or flowering head of the Perennial 

 Clover or Marl-grass, being without any foot-stalk, but sitting on the base of a leaf Xli 

 stem of the perennial sort is more constantly zig-zag ; and the root is slightly creepino- 

 The spike is evidently less compact than that of the Broad-leaved, or Biennial Red 

 Clover. The leaves are also smoother, and longer. There are three varieties of tli 



mentioned by botanical writers, one of wliichis 

 said to be perennial, and the true Marl or Cow-grass; but all the seeds and plants 1 have 



(^TrifoUum pratensej 



Mess 



) 



vated on various soils; and I never could find a perennial variety which answered to the 

 description of the TrifoUum prat ense, though I have searched for it in every soil where 



' 



opportunity offered. The plant upon which the following experiments were made, was 

 taken from a rich ancient pasture, which was so closely cropped at the time, that tlie 

 plant was only three inches high, though in flower. This plant is also frequent on cold 

 tenacious clayey soils, where it is of smaller stature, more woody, and darker coloured; 



r 



but when transplanted to a richer soil, its appearance is much altered. The distinctions of 

 the perennial and the biennial root, are the most certain, and of the most importance totlie 

 Agriculturist, in choosing between two plants of nearly equal valup for the purpose of 

 permanent pasture. To avoid any chance of mistake, therefore, I here present a specimen 

 of the Perennial Red Clover, which I have brought from a rich ancient pasture that bad 



never been under, the plough, according to the oldest recollection. 

 Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich black loam, is, 



r 



dr. 



Grass, SO oz. The produce per acre 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 



The produce of the space, ditto 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 



The produce of the space, ditto 



qr, 



oz. 



326700 



lbs. 



20418 n 



25 

 150 



102093 12 



6380 13 12 



2 1 

 16 3^ 



- 11485 8 



14037 14 4 



717 IS 8 



The produce of latter-math at two different cuttings, is 



Grass, 28 oz. The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



304920 



2 1 

 15 3 



10719 13 



19057 8 

 669 16 13 



The weight of nutritive matter contained in the latter-math herbage, is equal to that afforded 

 by he flowenng herbage. The plant, as it passes this stage of growth, becomes woody, par- 

 ticularly at the bottom of the stalks. Jt pushes forth flowering stems during all the summer and 



autumn, if never suffered to perfect its seed. 



. ,, :, ^" -peoectits seed. It withstands the eff-ects of severe dry weain^' 



etter than most pasture plants, continuing to flower, even when the surrounding herbage is 



Durnt up on strong loamv sdiis. The wl,,-*. „i _„ .^ . . ,. . . .i.„ u... .lover, 



burnt up on strong loamy soils. 



(TrifoUum repens) 



and the hop clover; 



