THE SELECTION OF GEA8SES AND CLOVEES. 69 



hottest weather, when Eed Clover gives up from drought. This 

 penetrating habit also affords a means of sustenance to the plant 

 on land which is too poor to grow Broad Clover, and makes it 

 desirable to increase the proportion of this seed for pastures on 

 thin uplands. 



Perennial Eed Clover has two characteristics which greatly 

 augment its value : it does not begin to flower until at least 

 ten days later than Broad Clover, and its more robust and sohd 

 stems remain succulent and eatable by stock long after Broad 

 Clover has become pithy and withered. Perennial Red Clover 

 fills up the gap between the first and second cuttings of Broad 

 Clover, coming into use at a time when there is no other 

 available green food for the horses of the farm, but it rarely 

 gives a second crop of any consequence. 



Cow Grass produces comparatively httle seed from its single 

 crop ; whereas Eed Clover yields a good crop of seed from the 

 second cutting, after the first has been taken as fodder. For these 

 reasons seed of the perennial variety is necessarily high in price. 



It is worth noting that Cow Grass is understood on Mark 

 Lane, and in many parts of England, to mean no more than 

 a fine handsome sample of Broad Eed Clover. The true Per- 

 ennial Eed Clover is rarely obtainable except from those who 

 make its culture a study. And, just as all Eye Grass has been 

 condemned because the annual variety has been used where only 

 the perennial kind should have been employed, so true Cow 

 Grass — Trifolium pratense perenne — has been disparaged because 

 Broad Clover has been called by its name and supphed as the 

 genuine article. 



When Mr. Jenkins was in Flanders on his tour with Mr. 

 Howard some years ago, he found that this Perennial Clover was 

 rehed on as the chief soihng crop, and was used in exactly the 

 same way as in the English counties I have named. So far as I 

 am aware, however, true Belgian Cow Grass is never offered in 

 this country, and if it were offered there would be the risk of its 

 being foul. 



