CROPS OF THE COLONY. 83 



to some extent the eti'ect of the salt, it would seem to be Bej'ond 

 question thiit this alfalfa is a distinctly resistant race, and is able to 

 endure more salt in the soil than the alfalfa ordinarily grown in the 

 United States. A small quantity of seed, reported to have been har- 

 vested last year from this patch, was secured for trial in this country. 



Horse heanx {Vic! a f aha). — The horse bean is a form of the broad 

 bean, having more numerous and smaller pods. It requires deep, 

 strong soils, containing a considerable amount of lime. When grown 

 as a forage crop it is sown, sometimes mixed with barley oi- oats and 

 sometimes alone, in rows about 2 feet apart. When the pods begin 

 to turn brown the beans are harvested, spread upon the ground to dry, 

 and then thrashed. The coarse, black straw, mixed with other forage, 

 is fed to animals. The seeds are a valuable feed for milch cows, but 

 discretion nuist be used in feeding them. Horse beans 3'ield about 10 

 tons of green forage and 22 to 28 bushels of seed per acre. 



Sulla {Ilt'dysarum coronarlum). — This leguminous plant has ))een 

 highly recommended for Algeria, but is generally found difficult to 

 grow and uncertain in yield. It is a deep rooting plant with erect 

 stems 2 or 3 feet high. In the green state it is said not to be relished 

 by animals; but if cut before flowering and made into haj or ensilage 

 it constitutes an excellent forage. It is, however, very difficult to 

 cure without losing the leaves. A further objection is that, while 

 occupying the land two years, only one cutting can be taken. A 

 good stand is nevertheless very productive, the average yield being, 

 according to one authority, 5^ tons of hay to the acre. 



Fenugreek {Tr'ujonella fmixmi-gr cecum). — This plant is very useful 

 as a green manure crop, especially on tobacco laud, for which purpose 

 it is recommended to be sown with horse beans. The forage is nuich 

 relished by cattle, but is said to give a disagreeable flavor to beef. The 

 aromatic seeds are considered stimulating and fattening when added to 

 other forage. 



Berseem {Trifolium ale.vandrintmi). — Berseem promises to be a valu- 

 able forage crop under irrigation in parts of Algeria where the win- 

 ters are mild. It is most likely to succeed near the coast and in the 

 oases of the Sahara, especially as a green manure crop for orchards. 

 A good stand has been obtained near Algiers by sowing as early as 

 July, four cuttings having been taken before the end of May. 



Vetches. — Vetches are sometimes grown alone, but their trailing 

 habit makes them difficult to cut. They are best handled when sown 

 with barley or oats, this mixture forming one of the most valuable 

 winter forage crops of the colon}-. Winter vetch ( V/'cki sativa) is the 

 species most used, the hairy vetch ( T'. villosa) not having proved a suc- 

 cess. The seed is sown in October and November at the rate of 70 

 pounds of vetch and 25 to 35 pounds of oats or barley' to the acre. 

 Vetch seed is rather scarce and high priced. The crop is harvested 



