31 



experience in the matter of silos suj?gests that the tumble weed, if cut 

 while young- and converted into silage with other forage plants, would 

 add much to the quantity and something to the quality of the product. 



Water Purslane {Ammannia eoccinea) is not a common plant in this 

 section, but is to be found in wet places throughout central Texas. It 

 has a harsh stem, few leaves (in September), but a great many seeds, that 

 cling tenaciously to the stem. A Jones County former and stockman 

 reports that stock eats it in the spring. The plant is worthy of being 

 investigated. 



White Sage, Sage Brush 'Artemisia mexicana) grows in all the 

 counties of this section. Opinions differ as to whether or not any kinds 

 of stock eat it, but the most observant stockmen and farmers are satis- 

 fied that they do, at least in 

 winter. It is quite ])robable 

 that this and other closely re- 

 lated sage bushes supply some 

 feed on the winter ranges. 



Ground Plum {Astragalus 

 crassicarpus) (fig. 11). — Sev- 

 eral varieties of this and 

 closely related plants grow 

 abundantly in central Texas. 

 They have bean-like, purple 

 and white flowers, and pods 

 containing many seeds which 

 rattle in them when ripe. 

 Before ripening, the green and 

 succulent pods are eaten by 

 cattle and horses, which im- 

 prove in flesh from the time these plants begin to appear. They grow 

 abundantly in Eastland and Shackelford counties, and wherever they 

 occur add much to the value of the forage on the ranges. 



Fox Sedge {Carex vulpinoidea). — This is rather a common growth 

 in most of tlie counties of this section of Texas. It grows to be 2 to 3 

 feet high and bears an abundance of wide leaves. Cattle relish it and 

 sheep raisers say that sheep are fond of it when it first greens out in 

 early spring. 



Star Thistle {Centaur ea americana). — There is much diflference of 

 opinion in regard to the value of this plant. Some of those who ought 

 to know, insist that it is not worthy of consideration, while others claim 

 with e(iual earnestness that it is one of the most valuable early forage 

 plants of this section. A Callahan County farmer says that in the 

 early spring of this year (1897) he was becoming apprehensive that his 

 home bunch of cattle would suffer for feed before the grasses and 

 weeds on which he usually relied for their early spring sustenance 

 would appear. His milch cows, which were tlien being given the 

 range of his fallow land as well as of a small pasture, instead of becoin- 



FiG. 11 Ground Plum. 



