CLOVERS. or 
into the byres, at a time when red clover is long gone past, and 
it thus.fills up a gap between the first and second cuttings of. 
broad clover, when green meat is so greatly needed on the 
farm. 
We do not say that cattle would prefer this cow grass to 
clover if the latter was available at the same time in an equally 
succulent condition; for if man mistakes the two varieties,. 
stock will not, and, on a field sown half with each, the clover, 
while succulent, will be closely fed off before any attention is 
paid to the cow grass. But, after all, the chief value of true, 
single-cut cow grass is its permanent character, either when 
sown with permanent grasses or when sown alone on poor clays: 
and cold uplands, to remain down like sainfoin for three or five 
years. Its long tap-root penetrating deeply makes it, to a great 
extent, independent of the surface soil; and this is the true 
secret of its succeeding where broad red clover, with its 
fibrous root, cannot be grown at all, or only at long intervals. 
It must not be confused with what is known as Suffolk cow 
grass, and which we have before mentioned. Suffolk cow grass. 
is not perennial, nor will it stand year after year, or resist the 
attacks of the eel worm like perennial cow grass. 
It is no wonder that botanists and others, who have to deal 
only with small plots grown in prepared soil, find a difficulty 
in appreciating the capabilities of the Zrifolium pratense 
perenne under ordinary agricultural conditions. ' 
A year or so ago we planted a dozen rows of this and: 
common red clover, alternately in our garden, which puzzled 
all to whom we showed them, and who were so sure of their 
ability to distinguish the difference between the two varieties. 
Had the area been larger, and the locality more open, as on a 
cold upland pasture, there would have been no difficulty. 
In a four-course rotation on good land no one would sow 
cow grass where red clover will thrive, red clover hay having 
a higher market value, and a clover ley being a, far better 
preparation for wheat. 
