288 FORAGE LEGUMINOS.E 



The variety lupuUna is found in India and America. Though of 

 less importance than lucerne [M cdicago sativa) it is still useful in 

 mediocre soils which are subject to drought. 



The other varieties which might be used as fodder are not ciuite 

 as useful, as they are trailing instead of erect, and their productive- 

 ness is small. 



M. Guthrie gives the following composition for Medicago 

 lu-pnlUia : — 



Water 

 Ash 



Cellulose 



Fat 



Non-nitrogenous ma'.ter 



Nitrogenous matter ... 



Retama Raetam — A leguminous fodder plant from the Sahara, with 

 black and white flowers which impart their pleasant odour to camels' 

 milk. 



Melilotus (Herb). — This plant, with trifoliate leaves, is usually con- 

 sidered as a fodder plant, but owing to its smell, cattle regard it with 

 dislike, and they can only be made to eat it by mixing it with hay, and 

 then only with difiiculty. 



Alelilotits is not cultivated in warm countries. Several varieties 

 occur, especially M . officinalis, and in Africa, on Nile soils, is found 

 M. -parviflorcij which is now distributed over the whole globe, and 

 regarded as a weed, like M. gracilis and M. abyssiiiica. 



Bees are very fond of these plants, especially of Melilotus alba, 

 which has large numbers of perfumed flowers, and is the cause of their 

 producing a large amount of honey. 



Certain cheeses are rendered aromatic with the flowers of Melilotus 

 coerulea. 



In India M . parTiflora is employed as a fodder. Dr. Leather gives 

 the followin.f; analysis of it : — 



Green fodder Hay 



cent. ... 1000 per cent. 



23-83 

 20S ,, 



32-49 

 18-56 



lOOOO 



2-97 



2-47 



Oxytropis pilosa (Undershrub). — A perennial leguminous plant from 

 Western Asia. It grows in sandy soils and affords good fodder. 



Pongamia glabra (Tree).— The leaves are used for fodder. 



Psoralea plicata (Shrub).- M. Sagot records this plant as a fodder 

 for camel :r. 



