Improvement of the Plants of the Farm. 
101 
blossom being nearlv full and the plants in perfection for 
feeding. The fourth sort was the latest crimson, which scarcely 
showed any blossoms at that date, and was ten days later than 
the other late sorts. 
These are most important modifications of a forage-plant, 
and thev would lead one to conclude that red clover may perhaps 
be rendered more useful bv similar changes of habit, and the 
persistent selection of the earlier and later plants, which in any 
field of clover mav be discovered. Messrs. Sutton's trial- 
grounds this year contained some exceedingly interesting plots 
of red clover, conveying valuable lessons on the effects of climate 
and on the varying periods of maturitv. In the case of red 
clover grown from English seed side by side with that from 
German seed, the former was far more vigorous, and a more 
bulky crop than the latter ; and the German was later. But a 
much stronger caution to beware of foreign seed was given by 
the plots of red clover from American and French seed. Cana- 
dian seed produces stout robust crops, and that from the North 
of France yields crops of pretty good constitution, but the red 
clover imported from the South of France, is quite unsuited to 
our climate. It either perishes in winter, or. like that from the 
L nited States, its growth is weak and sickly. In m.atters of 
this kind no sort of instruction equals that which is conveyed 
by the eye, and I hope that competitive trials will lead to the 
disuse of inferior foreign clover-seed, a large quantity of which 
is at present sold and sown in this countrv. 
The earlier and later " habit " of English and German clover, 
or oi Indian and English wheat, or of maize, or other corn 
which ripens at different dates in different localities, suggests 
that perhaps red clover might assume earlier or later forms, 
like trifolium. A correspondent who is not acquainted with the 
two distinct forms known as cow-grass (not the T. medium of 
botanists) and red clover, says .• 
" It is just called red clover 'whether it is grown from English, German, 
French, American, or Canadian seed. The last-named seed is growing in 
favour so, that seedsmen now offer it as Canadian. All through "the spring 
and winter clover grown from Canadian seed retains a rather shy habit; bm 
when warm weather comes, it rushes out, and is soon equal to English. It is 
not quite so tall, perhaps, but yields as heavy a crop, owing to the plants 
branching more freely." 
These are marked characteristics. The habit of " rushins " 
in their growth, as most plants do in the forcing climate of an 
American spring, may not be permanent, perhaps, but so long 
as it lasts it is advantageous. 
^^ hy should not agriculturists effect with root and forage 
crops what horticulturists have accomplished ia another depart- 
