ON PLANTS IN RELATION TO ANIMALS. 
539 
riant the clover the greater is this danger. After being 
accustomed to this rich food for a few days, during which it 
should he given sparingly, the danger is less; but it is never 
safe to allow milch-cows to eat large quantities of wet clover. 
The red clover appears to have been introduced into English 
agriculture first in the year 1645 by Sir Richard Weston, 
who had observed its large and successful cultivation in 
Belgium. It appears to have been grown on the Continent 
long before this time, the absence of the fine natural pas¬ 
tures which we possess having led the French and German 
agriculturists to encourage the growth of those plants which 
would form their best substitute. Owing to the moisture of 
our climate it is somewhat difficult to obtain a supply of 
clover seed, and much that we use is imported from Belgium 
and Holland. The seeds and dry flowers of the red clover, 
like those of the white species, have been occasionally used 
as a substitute for flour in bread-making, and those of all the 
native species might possibly be so employed.” 
The growth of clover seed is a very important business. 
Home-grown seed usually fetches a very good price; but 
sometimes our winters begin so early that it is difficult to 
save the seed properly, and our home growth has to be sup¬ 
plemented from abroad ; yet the foreign, as a rule, is not so 
clean as home-grown. Clover, especially in its green state, 
is sometimes found to possess some rather strong medicinal 
qualities, so that cattle and sheep put incautiously on 
green clover are apt to become what is called blasted, by 
an accumulation of carbonic-acid gas, as the result of the 
fermentation of the green leaves, or else purgation proceeds 
to such an extent as to often produce very serious diarrhoea 
or scours. When this is the case it is as well to change the 
pasture as soon as possible, and perhaps to administer doses 
of hyposulphite of soda. The popular remedy, however, is 
a strong solution of salt, which no doubt acts by checkingthe 
fermentation. 
There is not the danger where clovers are mixed with 
grasses. Hence we prefer to sow ray grasses with clovers of 
all kinds. 
The red clover is particularly liable to the attacks of two 
distinct forms of parasites belonging to the genera : 
Oroibanche —Broomrape. 
Cuscuta —Dodder. 
Both these, though very distinct, would appear to start 
into life much in the same manner. 
The seeds of broomrape attach themselves to the young 
rootlets of clover, and when the second shear of the plant is 
