6o 



Wild White Clover. 



[APRIL, 



" The agricultural survey in respect of this map was made 



in 1 91 1, by Monsieur L. Crochetelle, Director de la State de 

 la Somme, Amiens. 



" The bridging of the gap between science and practice 

 is one of the great needs of British industry and commerce, 

 especially with regard to agriculture, and the employment 

 of these agricultural maps should help in this direction. Science 

 combined with practical knowledge is the surest road to 

 financial success. As regards the expenses of this survey, 

 the whole cost was less than £50, and this would probably 

 be more than repaid by results in the first year." 



Wild white clover is indigenous on grass lands throughout 

 the country, being found both on the best fattening pastures 

 and frequently on quite poor types of 

 Wiid^White Clover : g rass land, if present on a field even in 



the^oSionof minute <l uantities {t responds freely to 

 Pastures. basic slag and rapidly increases in amount 

 under the influence of this manure. 



The great value of wild white clover in the formation of pas- 

 tures is due largely to the rapidity with which it forms a sward, 

 and thus keeps out weeds ; and to its beneficial effect on the 

 grasses associated with it and on the fertility of the land for 

 subsequent arable crops when the turf is broken and the residues 

 are ploughed down. Seed of wild white clover should be in- 

 cluded in all mixtures for leys of three or more years' duration ; 

 it hastens the development of a close sole, encourages rough- 

 stalked meadow grass — a nutritious plant which remains 

 green throughout the winter — keeps out weeds, and makes for 

 fertility. 



Some striking results of experiments comparing ordinary 

 white Dutch clover with wild white clover are reported from 

 the North Wales University College. Trials with seed mixtures 

 were carried out at five centres, and 2 lb. of wild white clover 

 in the mixture was compared with 2 lb. of ordinary white 

 Dutch clover. The proportion of ground occupied 2\ years 

 after sowing was 23 per cent, of wild white clover, or ten times 

 as much ground as was covered by the ordinary clover. In 

 fact it was probable that the plants from ordinary seed had all 

 died out after 2.\ years, and the plants occurring were the 

 product of seeds present naturally in the soil before seeding. 

 The difference resulting from using wild white clover was still 



