44 THE SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



pratensis (meadow pea), Vicia cracca (tufted vetch) and V. septum 

 (fence vetch) are most highly prized as forage plants. 



Other, mostly wild, herbaceous forage plants are pimpernel (Pimpin- 

 ella saxifrage) wild burnet (Sanguisorba minor s. Poterium sanguis- 

 orba), scabiose {Centaur ea scabiosa), plantain or ribwort (Plantago 

 major) (most other species in United States worthless weeds), lady's 

 mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) ; aromatic plants — milfoil, yarrow or 

 sneezewort (Achillea millifolium), caraway (Carum carvi) (not com- 

 mon in United States), thyme [Thymus serpyllum), marjoram (Origan- 

 um vulgare), mint (Mentha), and herbs with bitter principles like tansy 

 (Tanecetum vulgare), wormwood (Artemisia), succory or chicory 

 (Cichorium intybus), elecampane (Inula helenium) (esteemed as a tonic 

 and expectorant), gentian wort (Erythraea centaurium), germander 

 (Teucrium), etc. An admixture of these aromatic and bitter plants, in 

 moderate amount, with other forage, is usually welcomed on account of 

 their favorable dietetic action. The following are less desirable in this 

 respect. Groundsel (Senecio), hawkweed (Hieraceum) , knot grass and 

 water pepper (Polygonum persecarum and P. hydropiper) cleavers and 

 bed straw (Galium), bugloss and oxtongue (Anchusa), chervil (Chcero- 

 phyllum), cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum), etc. 



Among the worthless and injurious herbs that are common in mead- 

 ows are the following: Dyer's broom or woad waxen (Genista tinc- 

 toria), thorny commock and rest harrow (Ononis spinosa), thistles 

 (Cirsium s. Cnicus), sage (Salvia pratensis), swamp lousewort (Pedicu- 

 laris palustris), marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), silver weed or goose 

 grass (Potentilla anserina), water pepper (Polygonum hydropiper), 

 knotgrass (Polygonum lapathifolium tomentosum), and, above all, the 

 poisonous plants, among which may be mentioned crowfoot or butter- 

 cup (Ranunculus acer and R. sceleratus), aconite or wolf's-bane (Aconi- 

 tum napellus), chervil (Cheer ophyllum temulum), water hemlock (Ciciita 

 virosa), spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum), hemlock, waterdrop wort 

 or dead tongue (OEnanthe crocata and CEfistulosa),co\chicum (Colchicum 

 autumnale), hedge hissop (Gratiola officinalis), red foxglove (Digitalis 

 purpurea), water plantain (Alisma plantago), poisonous darnel (Lolium 

 temulentum), dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis and M. annua), male 

 fern (Aspidium filix-mas), and common brake (Pteris aquilina). 



The chemical composition of the meadow grasses varies according to 

 the species, age of plants, soil and fertilizer conditions, climate and 

 location. 



As the age of the plant advances the digestible substance diminishes 

 and the crude fiber increases, as the following example will show: 



Hay cut and dried at various times, but under otherwise identical con- 

 ditions : 



