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Trefoil is often confounded with yellow clover properly so called (Trifolium filiforme, L.). Distinction Distinction 
is easy: in the former, the corolla falls away after flowering, and the pod is laid bare; in the from yellow 
latter, the corolla is persistent and its withered remains envelope the pod. Further, the pods of | “eve 
yellow clover are smaller and not curved at the apex like those of trefoil. 
This plant has received many names such as hop-trefoil, yellow trefoil, yellow clover, hop clover, Name. 
black medick, nonsuch, etc. In France, it is called »Minette«. 
Judtmann remarks that hop trefoil was not grown in Germany in 1790, although in England it had — History. 
proved successful, and was in common cultivation at that date. Hartlib states that it came into culti~ 
vation in England about 1659. The cheapness of the seed rather than the good qualities of the plant 
has, according to Lawson, brought this trefoil into common cultivation in England. 
Although neither very productive nor persistent, still, on many soils where red clover is not Agricultural 
successful, this plant becomes valuable because its fodder is so nutritive. For calcareous land incapable — value. 
of bearing clover it is specially suitable. It is an excellent plant in pastures. Because of the diffuse 
and spreading habit of its stems, hop trefoil is usually sown in mixture with clovers and grasses, and then 
forms excellent pasturage for sheep and cattle. It is less suitable in mixtures for hay production. In 
any case, as the plant itself only lasts for one or two years, it ought only to be used in leys of short 
duration. In mixtures on warm and favourable soils, it reaches maturity, and propagates by sowing its 
own seed. 
Occurrence, climate, soil, manure. Trefoil is indigenous throughout Europe, except in northern Geographical 
Norway, Lapland, the greater part of Finnland, and northern Russia. It is also indigenous to northern istribution, 
Africa: and to temperate Asia, in Caucasus, Georgia, Armenia, and Siberia (Ural, Altai, Baikal). 
It is found, in greatest abundance, on moist calcareous fields, meadows, pastures, and wood-clearings. — Habitat. 
In the alpine regions, it occurs at high altitudes: for example, in the upper Engadine at Pont- Limits of 
resina and Celerina at 6000 feet and on the Bavarian Alps at 4300 feet. altitude. 
Hop trefoil resists cold better than red clover. Although it withstands drought well, it Climate. 
loves a moist and warm climate; in England, therefore, the produce is greater than in the 
dry climates of the continent. In warm situations the duration is also longer. 
Any soil, if not too poor and containing sufficient moisture and lime, is suitable, except Soil. 
such as are very wet or sour. It thrives tolerably well even on sands, not too dry and 
on moorlands, if they are well-manured and contain lime. It is most successful on clay marls. 
It requires little from the subsoil, but the surface layers must be suitable. As already 
pointed out, the cultivation of trefoil should only be undertaken where the better kinds 
of clover cannot be grown. 
According to Anderson & Marchand. 100 Ibs. of hay remove from the soil: — Substances 
Phosphoric acid . . 4.6 Ibs. Layee ce a 18-4 She: pet BOE 
Potaci # te ta odes Sulphuric acid 22 ATOR Ae 
Sida « same Fe Oth ECA Tes Pe" + leeelun so  Sece= sy 
Magiestay 20) Samo) che me 
According to Wolff, the amount of Nitrogen is 2.4°/o == 24.2 per thousand. It is thus seen, 
that trefoil makes somewhat large demands upon the soil, and as the root system is not deep-seated. 
mainly upon the superficial layers. 
It is better to allow trefoil to follow a well manured crop than to add fresh manure. Manure. 
It has been asserted, that it does not thrive with fresh manure. It is certainly the case, 
that the stems of trefoil — spreading as they do, along the ground — may easily become im- 
pregnated with manure, and taste of it; then, of course, browsing animals do not readily 
eat it, 
