6 



Alabama, and not generally known in the United States, 

 but in some parts of Europe it is highly esteemed as a for- 

 age plant for hay and pasturage, and for renovating the 

 soil. It is a vine like, jointed plant, branching out near the 

 ground, and at some of the joints, and at the top; and 

 forming from 25 to 250 seed vessels, according to vigor of 

 plant, each seed vessel containing from 6 to 26 small seeds 

 resembling those of an onion. The average growth of the 

 plant here on our thin sandy land, is from 8 to 12 inches in 

 height. 



Further trial is necessary before positive conclusions can 

 be drawn, but from one year's experiment the indications 

 are that it is inferior to either Bermuda or Crab grass, for 

 hay and pasturage, and its meager growth will keep it from 

 competing in the South with clay peas as a renovator of 

 poor soils. 



ANALYSIS OF SPURRY, (aIR DRIED.) 



Furnished by Dr. James T. Anderson in charge of Chem- 

 ical Department (August 24th, 1893) of the State Agricul- 

 tural and Mechanical College : 



Moisture 11.05 



Ether Extract 6.31 



Crude Fiber 16.58 



Ash 7.59 



Crude Protein 10.28 



K free Extract 48.19 



100 00 



Phosphoric Acid 0.90 



Potash 1.88 



Nitrogen 1.64 



The above sample was gathered on June 28th, 1893, sixty 

 days from time of planting. 



While this plant does not ripen like wheat, the seed ma- 

 turing all at the same time, yet at the time of gathering it 

 was sufficiently matured and in a suitable condition for 

 analysis. 



