CHAPTER VI 



MAMMOTH CLOVER 



Mammoth Clover (Trifolium magnum) was long 

 ago named Trifolium medium by Linnaeus. How- 

 ever appropriate the designation may have been at 

 the time, it is not so now, at least under American 

 conditions, as in this country there is no other vari- 

 ety of clover so large, unless sweet clover (Melilotus 

 alba). To apply to it the distinguishing term 

 medium, therefore, is positively misleading, since 

 the smaller variety of red clover commonly grown 

 occupies such middle ground, as the term medium 

 would indicate. Because of this, the author has ven- 

 tured to designate it Trifolium magnum. It has 

 also been classified, and with no little appropriate- 

 ness, Trifolium- pratense perenne, which has refer- 

 ence to the mildly perennial habit of growth in this 

 plant. In common phrase it is known by such names 

 as Large, Tall, Saplin or Sapling, Giant, Meadow, 

 Perennial Red, Red Perennial Meadow, Pea Vine, 

 Zigzag, Wavy Stemmed, Soiling, and Cow clover or 

 Cow grass. Each of these names has reference to 

 some peculiarity of growth in the plant. For instance, 

 the terms Large, Tall, Saplin and Giant have refer- 

 ence to the size of the plant ; and the terms Pea Vine, 

 Zigzag and Wavy Stemmed to the somewhat irreg- 



