—— +2 — =. — a oY i= 7 _— 
125 
5. Italian red, although very early, soon disappears; it is so sensitive to cold that the crop is often 
destroyed during the first winter. 6. English red is tall, produces abundance of sap and leaf, and 1s 
lasting; it ought to be regarded as the best clover in northern Europe. 7. American red has in 
recent times been largely imported into Europe. Opinions regarding it are divided; it ought, therefore, 
to be used with caution. It is provided with abundance of hairs, an arrangement for diminishing the 
amount of transpired water. As far as produce is concerned it almost equals European reds, but it 
is less hardy and more liable to be affected by variations of temperature and mixture than other varieties. 
At Copenhagen, Lund has tried it experimentally*). After the rigorous winter of 1878—79, he found 
on a square foot of ground 17.1 plants of European red and only 5.4 plants of American red. 
American red was thus proved to be three times less resistent to extreme winters than European 
red. In less severe winters, American is equal to European red. It is clear that great risk is run 
when American seed is used, It is probable that, at times, the clover-sickness of the land, as it is 
called, may be due to the use of American seed which Is not yet thoroughly acclimatised here ; this is 
the more likely as, in commerce, American seed is often substituted for European. The produce from ) 
American seed is also less, Nielsen, of Oerslev, obtained from a good soil as the average of fourteen 
trials the following results: — 
Hay per acre: 
From European seed . =. 9,200 Ibs. 
American _,, ; 8,400 ,, 
13 
On an inferior soil the following was the result: 
Hay per acre: 
From European seed ; ; 7,170 Ibs. | 
, American ,. 6400 ., 
The average weight of a single plant of European red was 103 grains, that of the American 67°/4 grains. i 
Trifolium pratense alpinum Hoppe, or Trifolium pratense nivale, Sieb., is the variety found on 
the Alps. It has very low stature, large capitula and dirty white flowers. 
Schwerz has well remarked that red clover is more valuable among fodder plants Agricultural 
than wheat is among cereals. The opinion of this celebrated agriculturist is quite correct. NabuG } 
But in recent times the cultivation of other clovers and grasses has made immense progress, 
so that rational mixtures of grasses and clovers can now be produced which will, as a 
general rule, give a better result than a pure sowing of red clover. In these clover grass 
mixtures, red clover usually forms the chief constituent. For stall feeding in summer, 
red clover by itself is certainly better that any other fodder. But the crop is not always 
certain, and to ensure success, great attention and skill are necessary. The land must be 
well tilled, well manured, and for a number of years, have borne no clover. Red clover 
can be introduced into any rotation. Usually it is sown with a cereal in spring, and used 
the following year. In autumn a pure sowing of red clover is ploughed up, for, although 
the wild plant is perennial, utilisation for a longer period is uncertain. In practice, this 
clover must be regarded as of two years’ duration. During the third year, many of the 
plants die, the crop becomes thin, and the produce is greatly diminished. 
Occurrence, climate, soil, manure. Red clover is indigenous throughout Europe, except Geographical 
Greece: also in Algeria, Anatolia, Armenia, Turkestan, Siberia (Ural, Altai, Baikal), India, Cashmere and distribution. 
Garwall, It is now naturalised in North America. 
*) Om Landbrugets kulturplanter og dertil horende Froavl. Nr. 2. Copenhagen, 1881. 
