BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL AND BIG TREFOIL 5 



The Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station (4, pp. 179- 

 180) on June 21, 1889, cut plants of L. villosus 6 in full bloom for 

 analysis, which was reported as follows: 



Percent 



Moisture 10.68 



Dry matter 89. 32 



ANALYSIS OF DRY MATTER 



Constituent: Percent 



Crude ash 8.23 



Crude cellulose 24. 48 



Crude fat 3.00 



Crude protein (nitrogenous 



matter) 13. 49 



Non-nitrogenous extract 



matter 50. 80 



Calcium oxide 1. 579 



Constituent — Continued. Percent 



Magnesium oxide . 336 



Ferric oxide .076 



Sodium oxide .365 



Potassium oxide 2. 064 



Phosphoric acid ; 688 



Nitrogen 1. 930 



Insoluble matter . 888 



It is evident from these analyses that both birdsfoot trefoil and 

 big trefoil have a relatively high protein content and appear to be 

 equal to clover and alfalfa in fat and minerals. 



SEED SETTING 



The general conclusion of investigators who have studied seed 

 setting in Lotus species is that both birdsfoot trefoil and big trefoil 

 are practically self-sterile. Silow (8, pp. 239-24-0) who has more 

 recently given the subject consideration draws the following conclu- 

 sion: 



Lotus corniculatus is practically self-sterile, but occasional plants set a few 

 seeds after self-pollination. Plants of L. major Smith ( = L. uliginosus Schk.) 

 are, on the whole, incapable of spontaneous self-pollination; but after artificial 

 self-pollination practically all plants are self-fertile, some to a very high degree. 

 Thus these two perennial species are almost entirely dependent upon insect 

 yisitors for seed formation ; * * * . 



The fact that cross pollination is common in these species may ac- 

 count for the great diversity of forms that are readily apparent. 

 Although birdsfoot trefoil and big trefoil are both open pollinated 

 and crossing of varieties within each species has been shown to be 

 beneficial to seed setting, it does not seem to have been demonstrated 

 that the two species hybridize. 



SEED CHARACTERISTICS 



The seed of both birdsfoot trefoil and big trefoil are small. Birds- 

 foot trefoil will average about 375,000 seed per pound and is a little 

 smaller than red clover seed. Big trefoil will average about 1 million 

 seed per pound and is a little smaller than white clover seed. The 

 color of the seed varies somewhat depending upon the stage of ma- 

 turity and the age subsequent to harvesting. In general, birdsfoot 

 trefoil seed is solid light to dark brown in color and big trefoil is a 

 solid greenish yellow to yellowish green, becoming brownish with age. 

 The weight of the seed in both species is about 60 pounds per bushel. 

 Seed of both birdsfoot trefoil and big trefoil germinate readily except 



6 See footnote 3, p. 3. 



