AGRICULTURAL CLOVERS 79 



TRIFOLIUM PRATENSE 

 (Red, or Broad Clover). 



Red Clover is said to be indigenous in every country in 

 Europe except Greece. In a wild state its presence is an 

 indication of the fertility of the soil. Although a strong-land 

 plant, it will grow on almost any soil, and contains so much 

 moisture that only one-fifth of the weight of the green crop is 

 found in the haystack. 



Winter and spring frosts are very injurious to Red Clover, 

 and to save the plant a top-dressing of long manure is some- 

 times necessary, for which, however, there is a return in due 

 time. 



A considerable diversity can be discerned in the various 

 strains of Red Clover. Seed is imported from all parts of 

 Europe, and large quantities from North America. Each 

 country has one or two well-defined types of this plant, and 

 although growers may be careful to avoid buying any but so- 

 called English seed, the fact that the stock may only have been 

 imported two years previously will account for the differences 

 which are every year visible in crops of Red Clover. The 

 prejudice existing against foreign seed, especially that from 

 America and France, is well founded. Experience has proved 

 that seed from either country produces a smaller crop than 

 can be obtained from a stock which has been acclimatised in 

 England for many years, and there is also the great danger of 

 Dodder to be considered. The seed grown in Styria and in 

 some districts of North Germany, however, is as robust and 

 hardy as the English stocks. 



Trifolium pratense is quite unsuited for permanent 

 pastures, but should form a large proportion of an alternate 

 mixture. The great root-growth made during the two years 



