184 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
leafy stems, bearing the small white funnel-form flowers in terminal heads and axillary 
whorls. In regard to its nutritive value, it is scarcely inferior to clover; horses, cattle, 
and sheep are fond of it, particularly of the hay. As a green manure it is of the great- 
est benefit to the farmer in the lower pine region. 
In addition to its value as a fodder plant it is believed to have much 
medicinal value. In Jamaica it furnishes what is called white ipecae, 
which has been used as a substitute for the genuine ipecac. 
Dr. Rohmer, of Spring Hill College, near Mobile, sent specimens of 
the roots for analysis in 1874, but they were, unfortunately, lost. Dr. 
Rohmer says: 
I was the first discoverer of the plant in Blakely, Baldwin County, Alabama, in 1858. 
When the war broke out I was appointed by the confederate government botanist for 
the department of the gulf, for the purpose of having such medicinal plants collected 
asin my judgment might be rendered useful in the treatment of disease, and subse- 
quently I received the appointment of superintendent of a laboratory established at 
Mobile for the manufacture of medicinal preparations for the use of the army. The 
idea suggested itself to me that the Richardsonia might be made to supersede the 
commercial ipecac, instead of using the euphorbia corollata, as has been suggested. 
In the fall of 1863 I had the roots collected, dried, and powdered, and then delivered 
to the medical purveyor. From the testimony of surgeons, the Richardsonia answered 
every purpose when given in increased doses. 
It is designed to obtain a supply of the roots the coming season and 
have them analyzed with reference to the presence of emetine. (See 
Plate 25.) 
P. S.—Materiai for analysis of this plant was not received in season 
to be used in this report. 
Prozimate analyses of grasses. 
= n . 
Sica tent seedless 34 
. |e8] 218s) 8) & 
Name. ee. | geal eal Soot ee ee 
1 o A A 5 mo pie} =) ie 
feats tf fines eS eee Si 
>) = PW Sy i < 4 < 
Desmodium, Beggar-lice.-..-----.---.------- 2.35 44 |13.46 | 8,15 125.39 |14.39 | 7.04 |21.22 | 7.56 
Lespedeza striata, Japanese clover ..-------- 3.30 | 1.10 |14.74 | 6.76 |23. 77 |14. 67 |16.22 |15.11 | 4.33 
Hierochloa borealis, Vanilla grass ---.---.---| 3.75 37 {12.71 | 5.42 |23.30 [23.15 | 8.58 {14.31 | 8.41 
Eleusine Indica, Wire grass..-----.--------- 1.78 | .38 j11. 92 | 6.33 |31. 29 |25. 46 |....-- 13. 72 9.12 
ID peas passe bade sskos denbegeecnee 1.72 | .35 |13.29 | 5.84 )22.88 |26.37 |10. 44 3 28.) 6: a 
DOG ao ak See ie ecee cere ee cee eeto asec ed 29 | 8.69 | 4.98 |21.53 |21.97 |20. 97 |12. 23 7.0 
Uniola latifolia, Fescue grass..-------.------ 3. 23%}...---| 6.78 | 4.02 138. 67 |10. 23*/14. 40*)11. 29 | 11.38 
Cri dactylon, Bermuda grass -.---------- 1.86 | .36 | 6.56 | 9.: ; & ae 
octet sao Sanbesese ee cecossacasee secs se 1. 23 36 | 8.17 | 3.& 
Sporobolus Indicus, Smut grass...----------- 2/99 ole| Satie. 6.19 
Andropogon Virg., Broom grass .-....------- 1.24 | .47 | 7.98 | 5. 6. 44 
Andropogon scoparius .....-.---------------- 116") 2435) 5:37 | 3: 3. 90 
Poa pratensis, Ken. Blue grass.------------- 1; 1.82 | 1.04 | 9.61 | 3. 5.18 
Poa serotina, Fowl] Meadow grass ..--.------| 1.95 | 1.53 | 9.33 | 7. 4. 74 
Dactylotenium Agypt., Egyptian grass --.---- 1. 64 | . 32 110.96 | 5.6 6. 90 
Panicum sanguinale, Crab grass.------------| 2.87 | .02 | 9.88 | 5.6 10. 68 
Panicum jumentorum, True Guinea grass..-| 1.27 | .31 | 5.93 | 4.5 8. 37 
Panicum obtusum ....-------.-----+---=----- 14.77] .50 | 9.68 | 5. 8.75 
Panicum virgatum, Tall Panic grass ---.---- aise57 845" z 3 ee 
WO eee nce ohn com Shot szee det este 14.75 | .17 | 9:61 | 3.05 3.5 
Panicum Texanum, Texas Millet----.-.------ 11.98 | .56 |12.49 | 5.9% 6. 63 
Panicum crusgalli, Barn-yard grass ..------- | 1.54} .57 113.87 | 5.0 10. 14 
Panicum filiforme, Slender Crab grass.------) 1.29 | .25 | 5.89) 4 4. 65 
Sorghum halapense, Johnson grass ..--------| 2.25 | .G1 | 7.87 | 5. 4. 85 
Sorghum avenaceum, Indian grass..--------- 1.57 | -10 | 7.27 | 3. 7 5. 63 
Muhlenbergia diffusa, Drop-seed. .----------- 1.39 | .43 | 8.96] 4 7.61 
Bromus unioloides, Schrader’s grass---------| 2.99 | .24 {14.36 | 1. 7.78 
Bromus carinatus, Brome grass ..-.--------- 2.46 | .24 | 9.38 | 4.5 10. 31 
Agrostis exarata, Brown-top...--..---------- | 2.12} .19 | 7.06 | 8. 5. 62 
Paspalum leve, Water grass -..---.---------| 1.74 | 1.02 | 8.86 | 5. 6. 43 
Setaria setosa, Bristly Fox-tail ...---.--..---) 1.05} .46 | 9.25 | 5.1% 6.7] 
Leptochloa mucronata, Feather gvass...----- |} 1.68} .40 | 7.33 | 6.4 8. 98 
Tripsacum dactyloides, Gama grass. ---.----- leieie }) GS e884) is: 5. 96 
Tricuspis seslerioides, Tall Red-top..--------- 1.81 | .24; 6.98 | 3. 4. 55 
‘Acvyeramace wep aeteet, 220.2222 eee | 1.92 pes | 9.42 | 5.08 |27.89 (24.08 |15.05 | 9.81 | 6.74 
*The analysis of Uniola latifolia is not comparable throughout with the other analyses. In this 
case the wax was not separated from the oil, but both were calculated to one amount (3.23 per cent.) ; 
also the alkali extract was made previous to making the sulphuric acid extract (amylaceous cellu- 
lose), the reverse of this order being taken with the other grasses. Because of these variations the 
above averages are computed independently of this analysis. 
