CLOVERS. 87 
As the main drift of the present chapter is to endeavour to 
solve the, as yet, undiscovered origin of the cultivated 
perennial cow grass, we have thought it advisable to first touch 
upon the plants which are undoubtedly closely allied to it, and 
afterwards give zz extenso the last letter we received from Mr. 
Martin Sutton, which throws considerable light upon the 
question. 
The order in which we propose to deal with the grasses is as 
follows :— 
Common Red Clover; Single-cut Cow Grass, or Perennial 
Red Clover; Zig-Zag Clover; and Woodland Cow Clover. 
Common Rep CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM PRATENSE, LINN). 
So rapidly and continuously does this plant grow, that any 
practical man gives it preference, wherever the soil will suit it. 
It rarely thrives on the same land more than once in eight 
years, and if allowed to stand over dies off partially or entirely 
during the second year, except perhaps when a dry season 
or other circumstances have made the first year’s crop a very 
short one; therefore, one cannot expect to obtain more than a 
crop and a half in two years from land most favourable to its 
requirements. 
Should the crop prove a failure during its first season, a fair 
crop may be expected during the second season, but seldom 
vice versi. This is accounted for by reason of its nature to 
exhaust certain elements of the soil, notably potash, whilst its 
enemy, the eel worm, soon destroys it, where it is young and 
shows signs of flagging (in the same manner that fluke destroys 
sheep) ; therefore it is always as well, when one entertains a 
doubt, to sow trefoil, alsike, or white clover with it. 
We consider 12 lb. per acre a sufficient amount of seed to 
sow where the land has been worked up into a good seed 
bed.. 
