104 FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 



its own colour. Although the darker seeds are more popular, the 

 colour should not be taken as an index of value as the most desirable 

 plant types may have pale yellow seeds. 



Good Red Clover seed should have a shiny lustre and contain 

 only a small proportion of undeveloped, shrunken seeds. The legal 

 weight is sixty pounds per bushel. 



Impurities: Red Clover seed too often contains noxious weed 

 seeds. Among the most troublesome are Ragweed, Night-flowering 

 Catchfly, Bladder Campion, Canada Thistle, Curled Dock and 

 Ribgrass. Other less harmful seeds are Green Foxtail, Lamb's 

 Quarters, Lady's Thumb, Pale Plantain, Yellow Foxtail, Sheep 

 Sorrel and Smartweed. 



Diseases: Red Clover has many enemies. Insects are trouble- 

 some and often do considerable damage. Weevils and other insects 

 feed on the leaves and the clover root borer attacks the roots. The 

 latter, which fortunately does not seem to be prevalent in Canada, 

 eats out the central parts of the roots and is a serious pest where it 

 is abundant. The clover midge, which feeds on the young seeds, 

 frequently causes serious loss. Where it threatens to be troublesome 

 the clover should be pastured or cut early. 



Various kinds of dodder live on Red Clover. The kind found 

 in commercial seed is chiefly determined by the place of the seed pro- 

 duction. It is most frequently introduced into Canada with Chilean 

 Red Clover seed. This dodder (the Latin name of which is Cuscuta 

 racemosa Mart. var. chiliana Engelm.) is quite different from Alfalfa 

 dodder (see page 120). It is true that the dodders resemble each 

 other, but their effects on the plants are quite different. Although 

 introduced several times and widely distributed in the seed producing 

 districts of Ontario, the Chilean dodder seems unable to establish 

 itself and is practically harmless. Other species of dodder may be 

 introduced, however, and prove troublesome with Red Clover. 



VARIETIES OF RED CLOVER. 



Red Clover consists of thousands of types, difi'ering in botanical 

 characteristics, biological behaviour and practical value. From a 

 botanical standpoint, two main types can be distinguished which 

 might be termed the American and the European. The latter has 

 smooth stems whereas the stems of the former have stiff, outstanding 



