49 



accnstomed to them, and there are other jilants which are more profitable in the 

 South. 



Ramie {Boehmeria nivea). — Perennial; stem erect, coarse, 2 to 4 feet; leaves 

 numerons, large; flowers very small and inconspicuous, in axillary clusters. 



Although this is ordinarily cultivated as a fiber plant, it is grazed well by cattle 

 and is an excellent crojt for soiling. On rich soil it will give from three to six cut- 

 tings of the stems from 2 to 4 feet in height, and if cut before becoming mature 

 they are so tender that the entire stalk is eaten. It is profitable only on rich soil, 

 and does much better near the coast than farther north, as it needs a long season 

 with abundant rains. 



Red Clover {Trifolinm prateiise). — Red clover is becoming more popular each 

 year, and is now quite a common crop in the black prairie region and in other sec- 

 tions where the soils contain a fair amount of lime. It requires a soil which is rich 

 and in fairly good condition to insure a "catch " of the seed. On many soils where 

 it makes a good start and yields two or three cuttings it soon becomes overrun with 

 other plants and is choked out. It is the best of the family to occupy a good soil 

 two or three years, but is of little value on poor soils. Seed should be sown in 

 September at the rate of 10 to 12 pounds per acre, and it will then give a heavy 

 cutting the following May. It succeeds best in the South when sown with no 

 nurse cro]). 



Sedges (Carues).— Very similar to the true grasses in general aj)pearance, but 

 with the stems 3-angled and the leaves 3-rauked, while among the true grasses the 

 stems are nearly round and the leaves are 2-ranked. 



Usually on soils which are too wet and heavy for most of the true grasses, very 

 common in swamps and tide marshes; nearly all are grazed when yoang, but as they 

 approach maturity most species become so tough and tasteless that they are not 

 touched by stock. The hay made from them is of poor quality, and one of the 

 species is worth oultivating. 



Soy Bean {Chjcine hispida) (fig. 19). — Annual; stem stout, erect, branching but 

 little, 2 to 4 feet; leaflets, 3; flowers in axillary clusters; pods short, 2 to 4 seeded; 

 whole plant rough-hairy. 



One of the staple crops of Japan, which attracted little attention in this country 

 until about ten years ago, but is now becoming quite common. The crop is culti- 

 vated like corn, the seed being i)lanted in drills at the rate of half a bushel per acre. 

 The stems alone are too coarse to make good hay, but are covered with such a dense 

 growth of leaves and are so prolific in fruit that the hay is prized highly, especially 

 for milch cows and for fattening animals. The yield of green forage is very heavy 

 when grown on good soil, and the yield of beans is from 20 to 30 bushels per acre. 

 Those who have had most experience with this crop find that the best way to handle 

 it is to cut or pull the plants when the first pods begin to open, and thrash as soon 

 as dry enough. In this way the coarse stalks are so broken in pieces and mixed with 

 the leaves and immature fruit that nearly all will be eaten. It is doubtless the best 

 of the legumes for the silo, as it can be more easily handled for the cutter than can 

 plants like clover or cowpeas. There are a number of varieties, diftering mainly in 

 the time of ripening and the color of the seeds. 



Spurred Butterfly Pea {( 'eniroaema virfiiniana). — Perennial; stems twining, 3 to 5 

 feet; leaflets, 3; flowers on short axillary peduncles, blue or purple, li inches long; 

 legumes, 4 to 6 inches long. 



Common on dry soil in woods; eaten well, and might be worth planting in wood- 

 land ])asture8. 



St. John's Bread; Carob Bean (Ceratonia fiiliqiia). — A tree which is grown 

 rather commonly in Florida, and occasionally farther west. It is valued for its 

 sweet, flesh j^ pods, which are very rich in sugar, and so are good feed for fattening 

 stock. 



Sulla (Hedysarnm coronarium). — Perennial; stem erect, branched, 4 to 6 feet; 

 leaves very numerous, pinnate; flowers in large showy clusters. 

 5720— No. 15 4 



