Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/27

9&#93; to a genus of plants comprising twenty-eight species; of which six only are natives.—The carnation, in its wild stale, grows on old walls, and is found among the ruins of ancient castles. It usually flowers in the month of June or July.

Although clove-pinks will thrive in almost any garden soil, yet they delight most in those of a light loamy nature. They are propagated chiefly by seed, in March or April, and generally come up in a month alter sowing. When properly weeded and watered till July, they will be fit for transplanting into nursery-beds, which should be about three feet wide, and in an open situation. In these beds, the plants are to be pricked during moist weather, at the distance of four inches from each other, and moderately watered; which should be occasionally repeated, till they have taken good root. In September, they will be fit to be finally transplanted into other beds of good earth, about three feet wide, in rows nine inches asunder. Here they are to remain till spring; but if the winter prove very severe, they should be sheltered with mats. In the vernal season, they ought to be carefully weeded with a hoe, and the flower-stalks must be tied up to sticks, in order to prevent their drooping, by which their growth would be retarded.

Clove-pinks have a pleasant aromatic odour, and are said to be cardiac and alexipharmic. A decoction of these flowers has been successfully used in malignant fevers and, as asserts, they raise the animal spirits, quench thirst, and powerfully promote both perspiration and the secretion of urine, without occasioning great irritation.

CLOVER, a species of trefoil, or Trifolinum, L. a genus of plants. comprising 55 species of which only 16 are indigenous: of these the following are the principal.

1. The prateuse, or common clover, which is frequently found in meadows and pastures. This species thrives best on a firm heavy soil, and is raised from seed, which is usually sown between the months of February and May, in the proportion of ten or fifteen pounds per acre. If it be often sown on the same land, the crop will fail; it should therefore be changed for treloil or lucerne.

Common clover is usually sown, together with wheat, in the spring, as well as with barley and oats; but experienced farmers generally prefer wheat; as, in dry seasons, the clover frequently overpowers the oats or barley; and, if it be sown late in order to obviate this evil, it often fails, and the crop is lost for that season. It is also mixed with rye-grass; and, if mown when the latter is beginning to flower, the lower growth is considerably increased, and a great quantity of excellent grass is obtained. Another advantage arises from this expedient; for, however severe the frost may be, the clover will be completely screened from its piercing effects by the rye-grass.

The common clover is in flower from May to September, and produces seeds which are known to be ripe by the stalks and heads changing their colour. Cattle, sheep, and pigs are exceedingly fond of this species, and frequently eat of it so eagerly as to become hoven or blown. That disorder, however, may be prevented by constantly moving them about the field, when turned in, so that the first ball may sink into their maw before the next