82 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



where only the perennial kind should have been employed, 

 so true Cow Grass — Trifolium pratense perenne — has been 

 disparaged because Broad Clover has been called by its name 

 and supplied as the genuine article. 



When the late Mr. H. M. Jenkins was in Flanders on his 

 tour with the late Mr. 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 Red 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 

 quantity of excellent food. Perennial Red Clover is not per- 

 petuated 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 climate interfere with its perennial character. 



Dr. Stebler observed that the plant differs from ordinary 

 Red Clover in having a less fibrous root, stalks generally solid 

 instead of hollow, and that it produces fewer flowers, and 

 therefore a smaller yield of seed. As a consequence true seed 

 is always expensive and difficult to obtain. Dr. Stebler also 

 supports my opinion that this clover is more strictly perennial 

 than any other variety, and he distinctly states that it is a 

 mistake to confound Trifolium pratense perenne with Trifolium 

 medium. 



At Rothamsted, ammonia salts had the effect of elimi- 

 nating this plant from the various plots to which they were 

 applied, whether alone or in conjunction with mineral manures. 

 Nitrate of soda also diminished the growth. Even potash and 



