148 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



but I am not prepared to state its prevalence in other parts of the province. It is 

 generally found on rocks thinly covered with soil, as a small plant, but it readily accom- 

 modates itself to more congenial localities, where it assumes the large form I send you. 

 It thrives best in a rich black loam. It has not been grown as a crop and its weight per 

 acre is, therefore, unknown ; from what I have seen of it however, I should think the 

 yield would be about the same as that of red clover. Cattle, according to Mr. Munro, 

 eat it with avidity, at any rate, during the winter months when green food is scarce." 



Our analysis of the sample sent furnished the following data : — 



COMPOSITION OP STORKSBILL OR ALFILARIA. 



Constituents. 



Water ... 



Albuminoids (protein) , 



£ther extract (fat) 



Nitrogen-free extract (carbo-hydrates). 

 Fibre 



Ash or mineral constituents 



100 00 



100 00 



These results show that this plant has nutritive qualities of a high order. The 

 percentage of albuminoids (flesh formers) closely approximate that found in good grasses, 

 though it must be remembered that in the young plant a part of the nitrogen (the 

 essential element of albuminoids) exists in the form of amides — compounds which have 

 not quite the same feeding value as the true albuminoids. Another feature in its favour 

 is the particularly small amount of fibre it contains. Provided the plant is palatable to 

 cattle, which upon good testimony it appears to be, it should prove a nutritious, 

 wholesome fodder. 



Storksbill or alfilaria e-vidently makes a large draft upon the mineral resources of 

 the soil, for the ash content is high. This should not be considered as a disadvantage, 

 if the manure from its feeding is carefully preserved and returned to the soil, for 

 provided these precautions are observed this and similar plants may be used as agents 

 for converting locked-up plant food into available forma for future crops. 



Regarding the value of this plant, it will be of interest to make the following 

 quotations from "The Agricultural Grasses and Forage Plants of the United States," 

 by Dr. Geo. Vasey : — " This annual, supposed to have been introduced from Europe, 

 does not seem to be mentioned in any work on forage plants. It occurs abundantly 

 and is of much value for pasture over a h^rge extent of territory in Northern California 

 and adjoining regions; elsewhere in the United States it is sparingly introduced and 

 usually regarded only as a weed, though it is not very troublesome. Besides the above 

 name it is known as Storksbill, pin clover, pin grass, and filaree ; it is neither a clover 

 nor a grass, but belongs to the geranium family ; it starts very early and grows rapidly, 

 furnishing good, early pasture and ripens seed before the hottest weather. It is of 

 little value as hay and is not worth introducing where the ordinary forage plants can 

 be grown. The seed is seldom sown, but the plant comes spontaneously each year from 

 self-sown seed." Prof. K W. Hilgard, of the Experiment Station at Berkeley, 

 California, says respecting this plant : — •' Two species of cranesbill {Erodium ciciitarium 

 and moschatum) are even more common here than in Southern Europe, and the first 

 named is esteemed as one of the most important natural pasture plants, being about the 

 only green thing available to stock throughout the dry season, and eagerly cropped by 

 them at all times." 



