Hunnicutt: Forage Plant from the Solanaceae Family 187 



culturally. We have not been able to 

 make fair tests of it as a cultivated 

 plant, due to the difficulty of obtaining 

 seed. Although it is common on our 

 farm, it is very difficult to obtain even 

 a small supply of seed. Several small 

 quantities of seed have been sent to 

 Hon. David Fairchild of the Foreign 

 Seed and Plant Introduction Service of 

 the Plant Industry Bureau. Possibly in 

 the United States it will be easier to 

 give it a trial. 



As seen by the illustrations that 

 accompany this article, this plant grows 

 on hard, comparatively poor ground. 

 The smaller, more bushy plant was 

 found in the middle of the farm road 

 on hard-packed ground. Nevertheless 

 this plant is considered as one requiring 

 fertile land, and is generally found on 

 the better soils. 



As to climate, Lavras is semi-tropical, 

 our range of temperature being from 

 30° to 90° P., with an average of about 

 60°. But we saw this plant growing in 

 the State of Parana upon a mountain, 

 where the cold is intense. How much 

 frost it would stand we cannot say. 



As to chemical analysis this plant re- 

 veals a very pleasant surprise. Its high 

 protein content is very unusual. It is 

 higher than that of most leguminous 

 crops. 



The analysis of the Secretary of 

 Agriculture of Bello Horizonte is as 

 follows : 



Per cent 



Moisture 10.468 



Ash 9.980 



Protein 23.920 



Fats 3.164 



Cellulose 26.780 



Non-nitrogenous ext 25.688 



Total 100.000 



The analysis of the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture is as follows : 



Leaves, Branches, 

 per cent per cent 



Moisture 8.36 7.04 



Ether extract 2.29 0.59 



Protein 20.88 14.06 



Crude fiber 28.03 37.45 



This plant is highly appreciated by 

 cattle and horses and would probably 

 be a feasible crop for hay if it could 

 be cut and prepared before getting too 

 woody. 



There is another of this genus, So- 

 lannin f/nvidiflonuii, or the fruit of 

 wolf, which has nearlv 20% protein, 

 which grows in much poorer land than 

 the Solanum bullatum, and is eaten by 

 the cattle in Brazil. This plant re- 

 sembles a gigantic egg-plant. The tree 

 has spines like the egg-plant and the 

 fruits are similar also. The plant 

 grows into a spreading tree about 8 to 

 10 feet high and will flourish on the 

 poorest clay uplands. To us it does not 

 appear to have much possibilities as an 

 agricultural plant, but it seems to be 

 worth more careful study and experi- 

 ment to see what can be done with it. 

 Lately we have had several inquiries 

 about this plant from other parts of 

 Brazil, and it is possible that soon 

 something will be done with it in a 

 practical way. We shall try and interest 

 the government experiment stations in 

 its cultivation and use. 



An Old Issue Especially Wanted 



Volume III. Nb. 1, the first quarterly 

 issue of the American Breeders' Asso- 

 ciation (now the Journal of Hered- 

 ity), is especially desired. Anyone hav- 



ing a copy for sale will please communi- 

 cate. Journal of Heredity, Box 472. 

 Eleventh Street Station, Washington, 

 D. C. 



