cow GBASS. — LUOEBNE. 189 



profusely even where it was not observed in other 

 yeafs, and hence such seasons pass under the term of 

 " clover years." It is not, apparently, so much relished 

 by stock as from its sweetness -we should be led to 

 expect ; but it is, on the whole, to be cherished for per- 

 manent pastures, and improved, as it undoubtedly may 

 be, by * proper selection and culture of varieties. For 

 an accurate analysis of this plant, the reader is referred 

 to a subsequent page. 



Cow Geass, Zigzag Clover, Perennial Clover 

 {Trifolium medium), grows on dry hills in Massachu- 

 setts, and has been introduced for cultivation in vari- 

 ous parts of the country, as a pasture plant. Its stems 

 are zigzag, smoothish ; leaflets oblong, entire, spotless ; 

 heads mostly stalked ; flower purple, and larger than in 

 red clover. 



Alsyke, or Swedish Clover [Trifolium hyhridum), 

 has also been introduced for cultivation on moist, strong 

 soils, but with what success I am not informed. It is 

 said to continue in the soil for many years, from its own 

 seeds, if left to mature. 



Suckling Red Clover ( Trifolium filiforme) has also 

 been introduced and recommended for cultivation, but 

 has not come into general culture. 



Lucerne, Alfalfa {Medicago sativa), is shown in 

 Fig. 152. Leguminous plants of the genus Medicago 

 have been known and cultivated from time immemo- 

 rial. This particular species, lucerne, was brought from 

 Media to Greece, in the time of Darius, about five hun- 

 dred years before Christ, and its cultivation afterwards 

 extended among the Romans, and through them to the 

 south of France, where it has ever since continued to 

 be a favorite forage plant. It does not endure a climate 

 as severe as red clover, requiring greater heat and sun< 



