OTHER GREEN FORAGE 



S3 



however, contain an active poison and should therefore be completely re- 

 moved, with the pods, before feeding. The wood chickling vetch should 

 be cut before or during early blossom time, 



Spurry (Spergula arvensis, Fig. 31) produces a feed for milk cows 

 and sheep in wide use. Its nutritive value corresponds approximately 

 to that of the meadow grasses (1,0 per cent digestibe albumen and 9.6 

 per cent starch value). It is a notable fact that this forage has little 

 tendency to cause bloat. 



Buckwheat (Polygonum fagopyrum, Fig. 32) has a nutritive value 

 similar to that of meadow grass (1.1 per cent digestible albumen, 8.1 

 per cent starch value). Its agricultural value lies in the fact that, like 



Fig. 31. ' Spurry {Spergula arvensis). 



Fig. 32. Buckwheat {Polygonum fagopyrum). 



the lupine, it thrives on sandy soil on which clover will not do well. If 

 fed out of doors to white sheep, or to sheep with white markings, to 

 swine of the same description, to white mice or to guinea-pigs, during 

 bright or sunshiny weather, it causes fagopyrism or so-called buckwheat 

 disease. Horses and cattle are more rarely affected. The disease is 

 characterized by a dermatitis, especially in the region of the head, face, 

 eyelids and ears (so-called head erysipelas). This may be accompanied 

 by an affection of the brain (inflammation in sheep) with symptoms of 

 fright, restlessness, raving, stupor and staggering, occasionally accelerated 

 respiration, weak heart action, icterus (hematogenic icterus) and hema- 

 turia. If the animals are kept in the stable, or on pasture during cloudy 

 weather, or if of a black color or darkened by adhering dirt, or artifi- 

 cially colored dark, the disease will, as a rule, not develop. Breiten- 

 reiter reports exceptional cases. Affected animals recover if they are 

 protected from bright light (e. g., by stabling). 



