47 



amoujit of lime. It will also grow on lianl, dry clay, and even wLere the soil is 

 quite sandy. On thin soils its growth is very flat and spreading, while on better 

 soil it becomes erect, and is often 2 feet in height. It endures heat and drought 

 without injury, and stock eat it greedily. It never causes bloating, but occasionally 

 has a slight salivating effect on horses, though that appears to occur in only a few- 

 localities. It starts late in the spring, but from May until after heavy frost it gives 

 the best of grazing, and should be in every pasture. Although mostly used for 

 grazing it is a valuable hay plant, making a good yield of from 11 to 2 tons per acre. 

 When wanted for hay, it should be sown in early spring, at the rate of one-half 

 bushel per acre, or it mayT)e sown with oats in the fall, as it makes but little growth 

 before the oats are harvested. For pastures it is necessary only to scarify the sur- 

 face of the ground with a disk harrow, and it will often grow well without any 



previous preparation of the soil. There 

 are a number of native species of lespedeza 

 which are quite common in dry, open lands 

 throughout the South, and although all 

 are grazed, they are not worth cultivating. 

 Kidney Bean (Phaseohts diccrsifo- 

 lius). — Annual; stems prostrate or trail- 

 ing, slender, 2 to 4 fe6t ; leaflets 3, oval or 

 2 to 3 lobed ; flowers purple, on long pe- 

 duncles ; pods long and slender. 



Common on dry, sandy soil, affording 

 some summer and fall grazing, but hardly 

 worth cultivating. 



Three other species of the same genus 

 are quite widely distributed throughout 

 the South, but are not sufficiently abun- 

 dant to be of much importance. 



Mexican Clover {liichardsonia sca- 

 hra). — Annual; stems branching, diffuse 

 2 to 4 feet; leaves numerous, oval, rough; 

 flowers nearly white, in small heads. 



This is not a true clover, but takes its 

 name from its habit of growth, which is 

 much like that of red clover. It is a na- 

 tive of Mexico and Central America, but 

 has become thoroughly naturalized along 

 the Gulf coast, and is found occasionally 

 as far north as central Mississippi and 

 Georgia. A sandy soil seems essential to 

 its vigorous growth in cultivated fields 

 after other crops have been laid by. 

 Where this and crab-grass grow together on well-fertilized soils the yield of hay is 

 often two tons per acre, and costs nothing but the cutting. Feeders are somewhat 

 divided as to its value, some claiming that it makes hay of fine quality, while others 

 declare it to be worthless. Chemical analysis of the hay indicates that it is nearly or 

 quite as rich a food as red clovei", and it is certain that many animals keep in good 

 condition through the winter with no other feed. It has but little value for grazing. 

 Milk Pea (Gnlactia (jJabella). — Annual ; stems prostrate, 2 to 3 feet long, very slen- 

 der ; leaflets 3, rather rigid, 1 inch long ; flowers large, reddish purple, 3 to 6 in a cluster. 

 Common on dry pine barrens and eaten well, but scarcely worth cultivating. 

 Eight or ten other species of Galactia are more or less abundant, usually in dry 

 woods. 



All are eaten freely, but their growth is too thin and scattering to make them of 

 much value. 



Fig. 18. — Peanut (Arachis hypogea). 



