ON PLANTS IN RELATION TO ANIMALS. 
839 
at once be distinguished as an annual; at the same time there 
is reason to conclude that, when prevented from flowering by 
the constant cropping of sheep, it may continue its growth 
even beyond a second year. 
This, and perhaps the next species, have been recom¬ 
mended for cultivation under the name of suckling clover, as 
all young stock eat it down very readily; indeed, it is stated 
that cattle and sheep are so fond of it that a specimen can 
scarcely be had in any pasture to which they have access. 
It is very partial to calcareous soils ; the Oolitic beds grow 
it in profusion, the absence of which may be the reason why 
it is so seldom met with in Scotland. 
2. The medium yellow trefoil is at once distinguished 
by its denser head of flowers, and generally larger parts. It 
is capable of yielding a greater amount of produce, and 
hence, on calcareous soils, w'e should recommend a slight 
admixture of its seed in laying down permanent pastures, as 
also in those mixtures which are employed for renovating 
old pastures. If it be desirable to grow this plant for young 
stock on other than calcareous soils it can be encouraged by 
a dressing of lime, which, indeed, should always form a part 
of the composts of pond and ditch scrapings, which are so 
commonly collected for the dressing of permanent pastures. 
In districts where the road metal consists of mountain lime¬ 
stone, as in parts of Gloucester, Worcester, and Dorset, or 
in others, in the same counties, where Oolitic limestones are 
employed for road making, the road scrapings should be 
carefully collected for adding to the compost heaps, which, 
indeed, should always be preparing as dressings to 
pastures. 
This plant, like the former, bears clipping remarkably 
well, for though it would be difficult to find a specimen in a 
field while being depastured, it soon branches out and grows 
up all the stronger when left for a period of rest. Like the 
preceding, it is common on limestone soils and in limestone 
districts. 
3. The hop clover, when the flowers begin to wither, is 
distinguished by the compact brown head, with the persistent 
striated standards so conspicuous as to appear like a bunch 
of hop blossoms, whence the name. 
It is larger in all its parts than the T. minus , though in 
other respects it bears a somewhat close resemblance to it. 
It is a common plant in hedge-rows and by way-sides, when 
it sometimes attains a size which would render its cultiva¬ 
tion advantageous. On this.account it was formerly grown 
in mixtures of grasses called “ seeds” by the farmer, and, 
