USE as A GREEN FODDER. 17 



paratively long tap root (see PL XII. fig. 2) which enables it to thrive 

 with much loss water than is required for Muscowi, and it is. in fact, 

 considered a kind <>t' dry land berseem. It is sown in the basins but 

 requires subsequent irrigation, as it yields two cuttings. Being a 

 cheaper seed than that of the Muscowi. it is often sold in place of the 

 latter. In habit it is lower and has a peculiar glaucous appearance, 

 enabling one to distinguish it from the Muscowi. Its root system is 

 abundantly supplied with tubercles and is eminently fitted to sustain 

 the plant during prolonged droughts. It was observed growing luxu- 

 riously upon stiff Nile silt which was so baked and dried out that large 

 cracks had formed in it to a considerable depth. On an average '» 

 tons only of green fodder is produced by the first cutting and 4 to 5 

 by the second or last. It is not sown to any extent in the Delta, hut 

 is common above Cairo. Experiments with this variety should be 

 made on soils likely to suffer from drought, and even on land not 

 under irrigation in regions depending on the natural rainfall, such as 

 southern Texas, and Louisiana and Florida. 



USE AS A GREEN FODDER. 



The peculiar value of this crop lies in its use as a green fodder, and 

 throughout lower Egypt there is scarcely an animal, either in the 

 city or on the farms, which is not put on berseem for at least a month 

 in the spring. Most marvelous fattening and conditioning properties 

 arc ascribed to it. Naturally the first effect upon an animal which has 

 been fed all winter on chopped straw and barley is a purgative one 

 (many cultivators mix a small amount of seed of fenugreek (Tri- 

 goru llafosn urngn cum) with their berseem seed on sowing to increase the 

 conditioning effect of the fodder) and weak animals are .sometimes 

 injured by the practice of tethering them all day long- in the berseem 

 fields, but, if strong enough to stand it. the scouring effect puts them 

 in good condition and they are sent back to the stables in town in 

 excellent flesh. It is a curious sight, that of a country with every 

 beast of burden undergoing a sort of cure. In general, animals are 

 not worked very steadily while on this green diet, as it is not suffi- 

 ciently strong, and barle}^ is often given work horses as an addition to 

 the green fodder. 



The small expense connected with the raising of this Egyptian clover 

 and its effect in keeping the weeds in check are points decidedly in its 

 favor. This latter property is more a matter of the frequent cuttings, 

 which prevent weeds from seeding, than any effect of crowding out on 

 the part of the clever. Although weeds grow with the usual aston- 

 ishing rapidity in Egypt, in general there are fewer weeds than in an}^ 

 other agricultural region ever visited by the writer. Whether the 

 berseem is responsible and how far for this clean culture will be hard 

 to determine. 



1971— No. 23— 02 2 



