8 NATIVE LEGUMES IN NEBRASKA AND KANSAS. 



All but two of the Lespedezas were counted in 1909 on a single plat 

 at Fort Scott, Kans., where four species were found. This genus 

 is abundant in the vicinity. Morognia appeared on a single plat at 

 Reece, Kans. This plant occurs throughout the region, but is not 

 generally distributed over the prairies. Yicia is quite generally dis- 

 tributed, but occurs almost entirely in dense patches which occa- 

 sionally cover many acres; hence the large number of indivitluals 

 found on the small number of plats. It is much more common in the 

 short-grass countr}' than where bluestem grows. Vicia linearis is 

 the only species found in the central and western part of the territory, 

 while V. americana is more common in the east, where it occurs on 

 river bottoms and in brush patches. Baptisia is confined to the 

 eastern part of the territory and seldom assumes much importance 

 because the number of ])lants is aljnost always small. Meibomia 

 is also restricted to the eastern ])art of the territory. Aragallus, 

 Lotus, and Yicia are most abundant in the short-grass country and 

 for about 100 miles farther east. Aragallus is most common on the 

 tops of hills and the banks of draws where the soil is poor. 



Tables I and II show the number and variety of native legumes on 

 some of the plats in Nebraska and Kansas. 



The counts in the ditch by the railroad are in niarked contrast to 

 those on the adjoining prairie. These shallow ditches were lines of 

 white for miles, all filled wath silver-leafed Psoralea. Whether the 

 dominance of Psoralea in the ditches is due to additional jnoisture 

 or to the destruction of the grasses it is impossible to say. There is 

 some evidence, however, that the abundance of these legumes in the 

 ditches is due to the destruction of the grass and the removal of the 

 soil^ exposing the subsoil, which contains less nitrogen, and so is 

 less favorable to the growth of nonleguminous plants. In many 

 places on the level land where the grass has been killetl by stock, 

 stacks, or breaking Psoralea has come in thickly. ' In nearly all the 

 short -grass country except where Vicia linearis is encountered the 

 number of legumes is much less than in the long-grass country, but 

 on the slopes where the soil is poor and buffalo grass and grama grass 

 do not thrive legumes are plentiful. This suggests that it may be 

 more the struggle with the grasses than with drought that keeps 

 down the legumes. 



Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



Washington, D. C, Augvst 3, 1910. 



[ClT. 70] 



o 



