5 GO 



Experiments with Red Clover. 



On the average of the two years 1901 and 1902, the largest 

 amount of dry matter was yielded by seed from the following 

 districts, in the order named : — Silesia, Prussia, Russian Baltic, 

 and Palatinate ; by far the smallest amount was yielded by 

 Italy, followed by Southern and Northern France. The results 

 are somewhat complicated by the fact that in East Prussia 

 such red clover is called a " late clover " and usually only cut 

 once. 



The general conclusions drawn are that the home-grown 

 (German) seed, especially the Silesian and Prussian, was 

 superior to the others ; that it was followed by Russian and 

 Austrian seed, between which there was not very much to 

 choose ; whereas the French and Italian seed must be 

 regarded as unsuitable. The American seed, drawn from a 

 very wide area, gave variable results. 



In considering the utility of these results as affecting English 

 conditions, it will not be overlooked that the seeds which 

 proved most suitable were precisely the native kinds, followed 

 by varieties from adjacent countries, while the worst came 

 from the much warmer climates of Southern France and Italy. 

 In this connection it is therefore desirable to notice the results 

 arrived at in the experiments conducted under the direction 

 of Mr. A. N. M'Alpine, Botanist to the Highland and Agri- 

 cultural Society of Scotland.* 



The object in the case of these experiments was rather to 

 test the monetary value of the seeds purchased. English seed 

 is usually sold at a much higher price than other sorts, the 

 chief factor in the price apparently being the size of the 

 seeds, i.e., the number of seeds in a pound weight. The sorts 

 selected for comparison were American, Canadian, French, New 

 Zealand, English, and German red clover, with American cow- 

 grass, the price varying from 56s. in the case of American red, 

 to 1 1 2s. for English per cwt. The experiments were carried 

 out on three different farms. Mr. D. Wilson, of Carbeth, 

 whose results are given in most detail, found that, if cost is 

 not taken into consideration, New Zealand red, American cow- 

 grass, and American red proved most useful in his soil and 



* Experiments on Red Clover Seeds, by A. N. M'Alpine. Trans. High, and Ag. 

 Soc. Scot. 5th Series, Vol. x.. 1898, p. 224. 



