GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 197 



to ten acres, to secure a good start the first year. It is said to be an excellent renovator of 

 old fields, and restores fertility in an incredibly short time. 



Prof. Killebrew says concerning it: &quot;About the year 1849 it was noticed in the vicinity 

 of Charleston, S. C., the seeds having probably been brought from China or Japan in tea 

 boxes. A short time afterwards it was discovered at a distance of forty miles from Char 

 leston, and still later near Macon, Ga. It seems especially adapted to the Southern States, 

 not flourishing above 36, growing with great luxuriance on the poorest soils, and retaining 

 vitality in its roots in the severest droughts. It is said to be a fine plant for grazing, and, 

 being perennial, needs no resowing and but little attention. On soils unfit for anything else 

 it furnishes good pasturage, and supplies a heavy green crop for turning under and improv 

 ing the land.&quot; 



Mr. Samuel McRamsey, of &quot;Warren County, Tennessee, says: This clover made its 

 appearance in that locality in 1870. It is fast covering the whole country; it supplies much 

 grazing from the first of August until frost. It is short, but very hard. Sheep are very 

 fond of it, and cattle will eat it.&quot; 



It is said to supply grazing from the first of July until frost, and to root out any other 

 plant growing among it. It is found in the South from the Atlantic slope to the banks of 

 the Mississippi. (See illustration.) 



Mexican Clover, (Richardsonia scabra.} This is a native of Mexico and South America, 

 and has only within a few years been naturalized in some parts of the South. It is an annual 

 plant of the order Rubiacea, which includes coffee, cinchona, and ipecacuanha plants. It 

 grows rapidly, under favorable circumstances, has succulent, spreading stems, which have small 

 flowers in heads or clusters. The flowers are white and about half an inch long. The leaves 

 are oblong, or elliptical, and from one to two inches long. In some parts of the South it is 

 called Florida clover, in others, water parsley, Spanish clover, and bell fountain. It contains 

 considerable water, and therefore is as difficult to cure as hay. It was formerly regarded as a 

 troublesome weed by farmers, but is now valued for the purpose of green soiling. 



Mr. Coleman, of Florida, says of it: &quot;It is called in this locality Spanish clover. The 

 tradition is that when the Spaniards evacuated Pensacola, this plant was discovered there by 

 the cavalry horses feeding upon it eagerly. Five years ago, hearing of it, I procured some 

 of the seed, and have been planting or cultivating it in my orange-grove from that time to 

 the present, as a forage plant and vegetable fertilizer. I find it ample and sufficient. It 

 grows on thin pine land, from four to six feet, branches and spreads in every direction, form 

 ing a thick matting and shade to the earth, and affords all the mulching my trees require. 

 One hand can mow as much in a day as a horse will eat in a year; two days sun will cure it 

 ready for housing or stacking, and it makes a sweet, pleasant-flavored hay ; horses and cattle 

 both relish it. The bloom is white, always open in the morning and closed in the evening. 

 Bees and all kinds of butterflies suck the bloom.&quot; 



Dr. Rohmer, of Spring Hill College, Mobile, gives the following account of its medicinal 

 value: &quot; I was the first discoverer of the plant in Blakely, Baldwin County, Alabama, in 1858. 

 When the war broke out 1 was appointed by the Confederate government botanist for the 

 department of the gulf, for the purpose of having such medicinal plants collected as in my 

 judgment might be rendered useful in the treatment of disease, and subsequently 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 had 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.&quot; 



It is quite nutritious, and cattle, horses, and sheep are very fond of it. It is also valuable 



