AGRICULTURAL CLOVERS 85 



a case the roots cannot be depended on for another crop, but 

 if pastured and kept constantly down the plant will provide 

 a bite all the summer. 



The small foliage of Trifolium minus is admirably suited 

 for lawns and pleasure grounds. 



MEDICAGO LUPULINA 



(Common Yellorv Clover, Trefoil, Nonsuch, Black Grass, or ' Hop'). 



A fibrous-rooted biennial which flowers from May to 

 August, and to a casual observer closely resembles Yellow 

 Suckling ; but the foliage is a paler green, the stems much less 

 hard and wiry, and the flowers not so dark, whilst the entire 

 plant is usually covered with a fine down. The black seed- 

 pods, which have earned for it the name of ' Black Medick,' 

 are also useful as a means of identification. Trefoil starts so 

 early in spring as to give a bite before any other clover, and 

 flowers ten or fifteen days in advance of Trifolium pratense. 



Although the procumbent habit of growth prevents the 

 plant from yielding much herbage for the scythe, and there 

 is very little aftermath, the quantity of keep in spring is con- 

 siderable. Trefoil is primarily adapted for alternate husbandry, 

 being only biennial in duration. Seed is, however, so freely 

 shed by this clover as to render it practically permanent, and 

 as chemical analysis shows the herbage to be nutritious, there is 

 good reason for including a small proportion in most perma- 

 nent mixtures, especially as it grows compactly and helps to 

 make a good bottom to a pasture. Where it is indigenous in 

 abundance, seed need not be sown, nor should it be admitted 

 to those soils on which it is liable to smother other plants. 



Common Yellow Clover endures cold better than heat, 

 will grow freely on almost any soil, and shows preference for 

 such as are calcareous, because lime is one of its necessities. 

 Clay marl is its special home. Fresh green manure does not suit 

 the plant, but a top-dressing of a good compost or of vegetable 



