1906.] 



Lucerne and Tkefoil Seed. 



89 



can be readily obtained, and the germinating capacity of 

 ordinary quality seed should be at least 85 per cent, or 90 per 

 cent, while in the finest samples there is no difficulty in obtain- 

 ing a guaranteed germination of 97 per cent, or 98 per cent. 

 In testing the germination of lucerne, the energy is noted and 

 reported after three full days and the full germinating capacity 

 in ten days. 



Medicago lupulina (trefoil) is a fibrous-rooted, hairy, biennial 

 plant, with prostrate, spreading stems, and is variously known 



Fig. 5.— Dodder Seed (magnified six diameters). 



in different parts of the country as hop trefoil, black medick, 

 nonsuch, &c. 



Trefoil bears a strong resemblance to yellow suckling clover^ 

 but the distinctive hairiness, the projecting midrib of the tri- 

 foliate leaves, the curved and blackened seed-pod, and the 

 falling away of the bright yellow corolla of the trefoil, render it 

 easy to distinguish the one from the other. Trefoil thrives 

 on most medium soils of a calcareous nature, and though 

 neither very productive nor persistent, produces a fair amount 

 of useful nutritious herbage. On account of the prostrate, 

 spreading character of the stem, it is more suitable for grazing 

 land, when sown in mixture with other clovers and grasses, than 

 for a hay crop. Trefoil, though primarily adapted and most 



