THE SELECTION OF GEASSES AND CLOVEES. 73 



and narrow, terminating gradually in a spear -like point. Those 

 who have once observed this peculiarity are never likely to 

 mistake Trifolium medium again. 



The plant is generally found by roadsides, or on rough 

 grassy places in dry situations, and it appears to be capable of 

 withstanding any degree of cold or heat. I have transplanted 

 it into garden soil with the result of a much more luxuriant 

 growth, and hope to experiment upon it in various ways to 

 ascertain whether agriculture is likely to benefit by its introduc- 

 tion as a fodder plant. 



Medicago lupulina {Common Yellow Clover, or Trefoil). — A 

 fibrous-rooted biennial plant, flowering from May to August. It 

 very much resembles Yellow Suckhng, but the foliage is a paler 

 green, the stems much less hard and wiry, and the flowers are 

 not so dark. The black seed-pods, which have earned for it the 

 name of ' Black Medick,' are also useful as a means of identifi- 

 cation. Trefoil starts so early in spring as to give a bite before 

 any other clover, and it flowers ten or fifteen days in advance of 

 Trifolium pratense. 



Although the procumbent habit of growth prevents it from 

 being of much value for the scythe, it afibrds a large quantity 

 of keep in spring, but there is no aftermath worth speaking of. 

 Primarily it is a plant for alternate husbandry, being only bien- 

 nial in duration ; still it propagates itself so sedulously by seed 

 as to be practically permanent, and as chemical analysis shows 

 the herbage to be nutritious, there is good reason for including 

 a small proportion in most permanent mixtures, especially as 

 it grows compactly and helps to make a good bottom to a pas- 

 ture. Where it is indigenous in abundance, seed need not be 

 sown, nor should it be admitted to those soils on which it is liable 

 to smother other plants. 



Trefoil endures cold better than heat, will grow freely on 

 almost any soil, and shows preference for such as are calcareous, 

 because lime is one of its necessities. Clay marl is its special 



