AGEICULTUEAL CLOVERS, 79 



Grass—TrifoUum pratense perenne—has been disparaged because 

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

 genuine article. 



When H. M. Jenkins was in Flanders on his tour with 

 James Howard some years ago, he found that this Perennial 

 Clover was relied on as the chief soiling 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. 



The true Perennial Bed Clover is an invaluable plant for 

 permanent pastures, and should be included in every mixture for 

 that purpose. Its presence in a pasture at midsummer, when 

 Alsike is giving up, is of great service, and although it does 

 not produce a second crop for the scythe, it yields a quan- 

 tity, of excellent feed. Perennial Bed Clover is not perpetuated 

 in pastures by seed as is commonly supposed, but from short 

 stout branches extended from the parent plant, which root and 

 take the place of the parent should conditions of soil or chmate 

 interfere with its perennial character. 



Stebler classes this Clover, among others, under the heading 

 of Trifoliuni pratense. He says that it bears the later and better 

 name of pratense perenne, or Perennial Meadow Clover, the very 

 designation which my fattier gave it. Stebler, too, notes its pecu- 

 harity of having a less, fibrous root than ordinary Eed Clover, 

 that the stalks are generally solid instead of hollow, that it pro- 

 duces less flower and therefore less seed, and that the seed is 

 always dear and difficult to obtain true. He also supports my 

 view that it is much more perennial than any other Clover, and 

 distinctly says that it is a mistake to confound it with Trifolium 

 medium. 



At Eothamstead, ammonia salts had the effect of eliminating 

 this plant from the various plots to which they were applied, 

 whether in conjunction with mineral manures or alone. Nitrate 

 of soda also diminished the growth. Even potash and mineral 



