45' 



and most sterile soils, and is an excellent forage plant. It some- 

 times occurs in such abundance that it is cut for hay. As it ripens 

 a large amount of seed each year, this is a promising species for 

 trial under cultivation. 



Hostickifi purshiaua (Lotus antcricunns] wild vetch. Fig. 13). 

 An annual vetch widely distributed from Minnesota to Arkansas and 

 west to thr Pacific, in fields and open prairies. The erect branching 

 stems are 6 to 18 inches high, the trifoliate leaves nearly sessile, 

 smooth to silky haired, the flowers small, solitary, and inconspicuous, 

 the pods narrow, flattened, six-seeded, and about an inch long. It 

 is very common in the prairie region, especially along the Upper 

 Missouri, and in some parts of California. It blooms all summer, 

 and being readily eaten by all kinds of stock is on this account a 

 valuable plant on the ranges, withstanding close pasturing and 

 trampling, and reseedmg itself freely, no matter how closely it may 



Fig. 14. Winter flat pea (Lalhyms deer}. 



be eaten down. Cattle and sheep become " rolling fat " on pas- 

 tures where this vetch abounds. It is one of the most promising 

 native forage plants, and should be given an extended trial in 

 cultivation, being particularly adapted to the drier soils. 



Lathyms deer (Winter flat pea. Fig. 14). A forage plant cultiva- 

 ted to some extent in Germany and Switzerland, and particularly 

 valued because it becomes green earlier in spring than almost any 

 other forage crop. The seeds are sown at the rate of two bushels 

 to the acre. Its appearance is much like the more common flat pea. 

 It reaches a height of one or two feet. 



