Part 15 (1/2)

_Trifolium pratense._ _Trifolium medium._ _Trifolium pratense perenne._

At all events, if this plant was ever distinct in cultivation, it has merged into broad clover forms; so that, if we are to possess it as a separate plant, it must again be grown from wild seed, and then, if it is to be kept pure, it must not be cultivated on clays or limestone, or, if our view be correct, it will soon lose its true distinctive characters.

3. _Trifolium incarnatum_-Annual Carnation or Crimson Clover-is a large species with oblong heads of flowers of a fine carnation colour, hence its common name of ”Carnation Clover.” It is a native of Southern Europe, and is said to have been found wild at the Lizard, in Cornwall.

As a cultivated plant, it has not long been introduced into England, where it has been much grown in the southern counties, as there it can be sown soon enough on the wheat stubbles with only just a simple harrowing-in, when it has time to make a plant sufficiently strong to resist winter; this soon makes growth in the spring, giving an early feed, or it may be mown; in either case it is off the land sufficiently early to allow of a late sowing of turnips: so that, where the climate will allow of it, we may s.n.a.t.c.h an intermediate crop by means of the carnation clover. It yields a large crop, but its feeding qualities, according to Dr. Voelcker, are somewhat inferior to those of the broad-leaved clover. It should be noted that varieties having white flowers are in the market, and of both red and white there are earlier and later sorts which may be useful for succession.

4. _Trifolium hybridum_-Alsike Clover-has, perhaps, got its specific name from possessing appearances and qualities intermediate between the broad-leaf and the Dutch clovers. This species has been introduced from Sweden, and its growth, duration, and feeding qualities certainly ent.i.tle it to rank high, and more especially for growth on some of the stronger soils. In our experience we have not found it to possess such eminent perennial habits as have been claimed for it. It thins very much after the second year, and almost disappears in three years, unless it be renovated by being allowed to seed, when the new plants by no means attain to the vigour of their parents.

5. _Trifolium fragiferum_-Strawberry-headed Clover-has been named from the strawberry-like form which its head, of enlarged coloured calyxes, a.s.sumes after flowering; its flowers are pinkish, but otherwise of much the same size and form as those of the Dutch clover, which latter it again approaches in its creeping habit and form of its foliage. It is, however, here mentioned only to point out the difference of its habits and indications when compared with the Dutch or white clover. The strawberry trefoil is a native of cold wet pastures, such as bear the name of ”hungry clays;” when present in quant.i.ty it is not to be confounded with Dutch clover, which would indicate a sound fertile soil.

6. _Trifolium repens_-White Dutch Clover-is a plant of very general cultivation, both at home and in the States, and in both of which quarters of the globe it maintains its character with great constancy.

Dutch clover is a valuable pasture plant either in meadows or in seeds.

In the former it is much increased by the addition of nitrates, soot, &c., with guano or superphosphate. As a plant, in seed mixtures, it is usually sown with other trifoliate plants and rye gra.s.ses, but if the soil be very light the Dutch clover may be increased or wholly used.

7. _Trifolium filiforme_-Small Yellow Clover-is one of the least of our small yellow-flowered division. It is a common native species occurring on the waysides, and has been brought into cultivation to only a limited extent, under the impression that its small herbage is suitable as a first bite for young stock, and hence the term ”suckling clover” has been applied to it. It is of little value, and does not seem capable of being greatly improved. This species is often mistaken for the following, even by pretended botanists, but its lax head of smaller flowers will well distinguish it.

8. _Trifolium proc.u.mbens_ is called by the botanist ”Hop Trefoil,” from the fact that its dried head of persistent flowers[6] exactly resembles small bunches of hop _strobiles_ (fruiting heads). The foliage is much like that of _Medicago lupulina_, nonsuch, or black med.i.c.k, which is the ”hop” of the farmer; but the whole plant of the true hop trefoil dries up so quickly under the suns.h.i.+ne, and is withal so wanting in succulency and quality, that it cannot be compared with _M. lupulina_ as a fodder plant, and hence it is but little cultivated in the present day.

[6] Flowers are so called that remain enveloping the seed while it ripens, which they do in all the clovers.

There are other clovers which have been recommended for cultivation, but they are mostly foreign, and do not appear to possess those qualities which should lead us to prefer them before those in common use. There are, too, several additional wild clovers, but they possess no agricultural interest, unless, perhaps, as indicators of soil. The _Trifolium pratense_ (Hare's-foot Trefoil) is a pretty, wild species, native to light sandy soils, the seed of which is sold for growing ”bedding plants.”

CHAPTER XIX.

ON THE VARIETIES OF RED CLOVERS.

The _Trifolium pratense_ of botanical authors is remarkable for the great number of varieties it a.s.sumes, even in its wild growth; but these are exceeded in the number of cultivated forms: thus in any rich meadow we may make out several sorts which may be expected to be more or less permanent, whilst the market samples of seed will offer us several varieties for the different countries of America, England, France, Holland, Germany, &c.

The following are some of the more prominent of our native wild varieties:-

1. _Trifolium pratense_-Common Red Clover.-Head of pink; flowers, somewhat compact; leaves more or less broad; plant smooth[7] in proportion to its size, the smaller wild specimens being usually very hairy; stem more or less purple.

[7] In this, as well as the generality of forms, the smoother and larger growth indicates cultivation, manuring will sometimes make the difference.

2. _Trifolium pratense_, var. _pallidum_-Pale-flowered Clover.-Head of very light pink; flowers large, full, and more rotund than 1, and almost double in size and in the number of its flowers; whole plant more or less hairy; stem green.

3. _Trifolium pratense_, var. _alb.u.m_-White Clover.-Flowers white; herbage a very light green; in other respects much the same as the last.

4. _Trifolium pratense perenne_-Perennial Red Clover.-Flowers less compact than the common clover, whole plant having stems inclining to dark purple; leaves narrower.

5. _Trifolium pratense perenne_, sub-var. _pallidum_-Pale Perennial Clover.-A larger plant than the parent form, and less hairy.

6. _Trifolium pratense perenne_, sub-var. _alb.u.m_-White Perennial Clover.-Not common, but still, like 3, an albino form, and is, perhaps, more delicate in const.i.tution than the coloured sorts.