AGRICULTURAL CLOVERS. 83 



Sheep injure it less than they do Eed Clover, and it is 

 supposed to impart colour and good> flavour to butter. 



Trefoil is rarely sown alone, but frequently in company 

 with White Clover, and it is important that the latter should 

 predominate or the former may take entire possession of the 

 land. Foxtail, Sweet Vernal, and Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass 

 combine well with Trefoil in affording early and valuable 

 herbage. 



The botanical description and chemical analysis are given on 

 page 182, facing an illustration. 



LOTUS CORNICULATUS 

 {Birdsfoot Trefoil). 



This plant is strictly perennial, and attains maturity in the 

 second year after sowing. It often fills up the bottom of a pasture 

 when other sorts are deficient, and will do this on land which is 

 clover-sick. Birdsfoot Trefoil is useful for all soils, and is re- 

 markable for its endurance of drought, however extreme. There 

 are Jiigh exposed thin soils where it is more productive than any 

 other clover, and it seems to augment the total of the crop 

 without detriment to the taller upright-growing varieties. There- 

 fore, if expense need not be considered, seed in limited quantity 

 should certainly be sown. Unfortunately such soils do not often 

 warrant the outlay for this clover, the price of which is almost 

 prohibitory. 



