270 



Trifolium Incarnatum. 



[AUG., 



the prevention of the difficulty is easy. The hairs of Crimson 

 Clover do not become stiff until the plant has passed the 

 flowering stage and begun to ripen ; it should be a rule, there- 

 fore, never to feed Crimson Clover after the crop has ceased 

 flowering, and especially never to follow the pernicious 

 practice of feeding stock with the straw of Crimson Clover, 

 raised and thrashed as a seed crop. By guarding against 

 improper methods of feeding, there is no reason why Crimson 

 Clover should not continue to maintain its well-merited 

 reputation." 



Some two or three years ago investigations of a similar 

 nature were carried out by Drs. Bernard Dyer and Voelcker, 

 and resulted in the same conclusions. 



The seeds of Trifolium incarnatum are quite distinct, both in 

 colour, size, and shape, from other species of LeguininoscB dis- 

 cussed in previous numbers of the Journal. Seeds recently 

 harvested and in good condition are of a yellowish colour, 

 somewhat tinged with red, or varying from a light to a reddish 

 yellow, oval or elliptical in shape, and when fresh and new 

 are bright and polished, with a smooth surface, and very much 

 larger than the seeds of Red Clover. In the micro-photograph 

 of a group of the seeds of Crimson Clover the uniformity of 

 shape and size of grain in a good sample is well shown (Fig. 3). 

 A very poor, low quality sample is also illustrated (Fig. 4), 

 where the great variation in the colour and uniformity of the 

 seeds is noticeable. Good commercial seed should be at lea^t 

 95 per cent, pure, and, by paying a fair price, there is no 

 difficulty in obtaining seed having a purity of 98 per cent., or 

 perhaps even higher. The germinating capacity of fresh new 

 seed of good quality rarely falls below 90 to 95 per cent. 



The seed of White Trifolium, although larger in size than the 

 red, is less uniform, both in shape and size. It is very easily 

 recognised by its shape and colour, for, instead of being yellow 

 tinged with red, it is of a bright cream white. In many samples 

 the lack of lustre, combined with darkening of colour, is, in a 

 great measure, sufficient evidence that advancing age has robbed 

 the once living and robust germ of its vitality. 



Some of the impurities found in Trifolium samples are shown 

 magnified to the same scale, viz., five diameters in each case. 



