22 



that it may have a special mission worthy the cousideration of stockmen 

 aud farmers— to reclaim alkali lands. It grows tall enough to be cut, 

 and both its leaves aud small twigs are eaten by stock. I know of no 

 instance where stock have had to depend upon it entirely for food, but 

 as a rule they know what is nutritious, so that it is quite probable that 

 the "Careless AVeed'' has a special value as a forage plant. A reliable 

 sheepman of Concho County says that sheep eat it greedily. It pro- 

 duces enormous quantities of seed, and every year reseeds the land 

 where it grows. A Mitchell County sheepman thinks that sheep eat 

 it because of its tonic properties. It has a bitter principle that suggests 

 such an idea. On the high plains of Nevada and Utah, and in Arizona 

 and New Mexico a similar species {A.j)almeri) furnishes a considerable 



part of the winter forage for 

 both cattle and sheep. Cat- 

 tlemen who have held cattle 

 on the range in Arizona say 

 that a salt bush, sweet sage 

 {A. canescens), Yery similar to 

 this in many respects, is a 

 principal reliance in that sec- 

 tion for all classes of stock. 

 Beggar Weed {Besmodium 

 paniculatum). — There is some 

 prejudice in the minds of 

 many persons against this ex- 

 cellent forage plant because 

 of the fact that its seeds have 

 a way of fastening themselves 

 to one's clothes. But this is 

 only an incident that ought 

 not to be considered in de- 

 ciding upon its value for for- 

 The fact is, horses, cattle, and sheep are all fond of it. It thrives 

 best in low and moist soils, but it is also to be found on the uplands. 

 The specimens collected grew in a rich, moist, sandy loam. The stems 

 are rather inclined to be woody, but when growing thickly, as fre- 

 quently happens in this section, the entire bush is easily convertible 

 into hay. As a renovator of wornout soils or as a green manure no 

 better nor cheaper fertilizer can be used than to turn under the rank 

 growth of the beggar weed. The tap root descends deeply into the 

 soil, bringing up mineral fertilizers from the subsoil which can be util- 

 ized by other crops. As it nuxkes an excellent quality and a great 

 abundance of feed for stock, it is recommended that farmers and stock- 

 men familiarize themselves with the habits and general good (lualities 

 of this beggar weed. 



Wild Bean {J'haseolus helvolus) (fig. 7) is found on low moist lands 

 throughout central Texas. The vines are frequently seen clinging to 



Fig. 7.— Wild Bean. 



age. 



