444 



and all are worthy of an extended trial in cultivation, although on 

 account of their jointed pods covered with minute hooked hairs they 

 are perhaps liable to become weeds. The foliage" produced by them 

 is exceedingly nutritious, and because they are strong growers they 

 would have some value in reclaiming worn lands. 



Dioscorca batatas (Chinese yam ; yam). A rank-growing vine 

 cultivated in all tropical countries for its edible roots. It is pro- 

 pagated by means of aerial tubers which form in the axils of the 

 leaves. This has been introduced into tropical Florida. The fleshy, 

 mucilaginous roots serve as food for man, and are readily eaten by 

 all kinds of stock. 



Doliclios multiflorus (Velvet bean ; banana field pea ; banana 

 stock pea). A rank growing vine with plump, velvety pods, each 

 containing three or four large oval beans. An ornamental, which 

 promises to become a valuable forage plant on sterile, sandy soils in 

 the South. In Florida it has yielded at the rate of 16,680 pounds 

 of green forage per acre. It is there esteemed as a winter mulch, 

 as, when killed by frost, the leaves remain on the vines over winter. 



Erigeron canadensis (Horseweed ; butterweed ; fireweed). 

 A bristly, hairy, erect, wand-like, annual composite, with numerous 

 linear, mostly entire, leaves, and very numerous heads of small dirty 

 white flowers. A cosmopolitan weed growing in waste lands, fence 

 corners, and along roadsides. This species has been reported 

 valuable as sheep fodder in the arid regions of New Mexico and 

 Arizona. 



Erodiiim ciciitariiini (Alfilaria ; storksbill ; pin clover ; pin grass ; 

 pinweed ; filaria ; filaree ; alfilarilla). This weedy annual 

 has nearly as large a distribution as the following species, but is 

 of less value. This species has been regarded by agricultural 

 writers as the true Alfilaria, but according to Professor Greene its 

 occurrence is rare compared with that of E. moschalum, and its 

 foliage is more fragrant and less readily eaten by stock. 



Erodium iiioscliahun (Cranesbill ; alfilaria ; storksbill ; pin 

 clover ; pin grass ; pinweed ; Filaria ; pilaree ; alfilarilla). An 

 annual of the geranium family, which occurs abundantly and 

 is of much value in pastures over a large extent of territory 

 on the Pacific slope. Elsewhere in the United States it is 

 sparingly introduced, and usually regarded only as a weed, 

 though not troublesome. It springs up during the wet season from 

 January to June, and grows on all kinds of soils from the coast up to 

 the snow line. It is an excellent pasture plant, but seldom reaches 

 a sufficient height to be mowed for hay. It is ~aten by all kinds of 

 stock as long as it is green, but when dry is of little value, because 

 the stems are brittle and break up into small fragments. It is culti 

 vated to some extent, and has been recommended for sowing in 

 pasture lands in the Southern States. A related species, E. cygnonint, 

 native of Australia, is considered one of the best forage plants of the 

 drier regions of th.it continent. 



