SIRAWBERRY CLOVER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15334, 17 June 1910, Page 9

SIRAWBERRY CLOVER.

Thdro are two forms of strawberry clover. One is the annual strawberry .clover, Trifolium resupinatum L. ; tho other is the perennial strawberry elovei, Trifolium fragiferum, L. Both species are introduced plants. T. fragiferum, L., is a native of Europe, of North Africa and of Asia. It somewhat resembles T. repens, the white or Dutch clover, in its mode of growth, but after flowering tbo calyces expand into small bladders, and take on a reddish colour. Percival does not include either this or tho preceding species among tho clovers recommended for cultivation. It grows well on clayey or wet sandy soils. Cattle graze well and fatten on it. Baron Mueller regarded it as superior to Dutch clover, but this is very doubtful. It may, however, stand summer heat hotter. The annual strawberry clover is a native of Europe, Africa and Asia, affording a little grazing in spring, dying down in autumn or late summer, but maintaining itself readily from season to season by its numerous seeds. Baron Mueller mentions that “ this clover is cultivated with predilection in Upper India, also in Afghanistan. This is evidently an error, as the plant is not mentioned in the official dictionary of “The Economic Products of India.” It is not worth- cultivation, and is of very subordinate importance as a pasture plant.