284 FORAGE LEGUMINOS^ 



Lathyrus tingitanus (Herb).— This climbing leguminous plant 

 grows wild in North America. It is a tirst-class fodder plant and 

 thrives very well. It is sown at the beginning of the rains and its 

 stems rapidly cover the soil ; cattle eat it greedily. 



Attempts should be made to acclimatize this legume in various 

 sub-tropical countries. 



Lotus cornicuJatus (Herb).— A splendid forage plant which thrives 

 very well in Australia. There are several other varieties in the tribe 

 of the Loteas which may serve as forage plants. 



Lotus cornicitlatus, the common Lotus, is not only indigenous in 

 Australia, but also in North Africa, Central Asia, and the whole of 

 Europe. According to Naudin, it has all the qualities of white clover 

 and surpasses it by its faculty for resisting drought. This latter it 

 owes to the length of its primary root, which penetrates deep into 

 the ground. 



Other species of Lotus have similar qualities. 



Lotus t'iUosus (hairy lotus) shows a greater development and 

 affords more forage than the foregoing. 



Lotus tetragonolobus (four-winged lotus) spreads very close to the 

 soil and can only be grazed by sheep. 



Lotus siliquosus is only eaten green. Productivity small. 



Lespedeza striata (Herb). — A herbaceous leguminous plant known 

 as Japanese clover. Highly valued as fodder in Japan, whence it 

 has spread to a number of sub-tropical countries. 



Lupinus (Shrub). --Lupins are very widely distributed plants and 

 occur in the most varied climates. Their flowers vary in colour, 

 and the chief varieties employed in agriculture are : Lufiiyius albus, 

 L. angustifolius, L. Terniis, L. arhoreiis, L.' luteiis, L. varius. 



These varieties are not only restorative plants, but arc also highly 

 valued as fodder, whilst their seeds are sometimes used for human 

 food. The seeds of Lu-pinus luteus are used for feeding cows and 

 oxen and help to fatten them. 



Lupins generally thrive fairly well in siliceous and volcanic soils. 

 They are grown nowadays in gardens; dwarf and tall varieties occur. 



According to M. Balland, the composition of the seeds of Lufinus 

 albus is as follows : — 



Water 



Ash 



Cellulose 



Fat 



Non-nitrogenous matter 



Nitrogenous matter 



Weight of 100 seeds, average .. 

 ,, ,, ,, maximum 



,, ,, ,, minimum 



