473 



Sida elhottii (Elliott's sida. Fig. 30). A low, shrubby or 

 bushy plant of the mallow family, native of the south, which 

 grows ii to 2 feet high on hard, clayey soils and rocky land. It is 

 an excellent pasture plant which readily catches from seed, pro- 

 vided the surface soil is scratched with a rake when the seed is 

 scattered. Cattle, sheep, and hogs are fond of it, but horses and 

 mules do not relish it. The sida has been quite widely introduced 

 in the grazing regions of California. It apparently thrives better 

 without than with irrigation, and is therefore of much value on 

 waste lands designed for permanent pastures. It is not a good 

 soiling crop, and should not be cut for hay. 



FIG. 31. Giant spurrey (Spergula maxima). 



Spergula arvcnsis (Spurrey ; sand spurrey). An annual, pro- 

 ducing a low, tangled mass of succulent stems, with numerous 

 whorled linear leaves. It produces a crop in eight or ten weeks, 

 and is valuable as a catch crop in short seasons, and for soiling 

 sheep and milch cows. It has been especially recommended as a 

 first crop on the pine barrens of Michigan, to turn under for green 

 manure. The air-dried hay contains about 12 per cent, of crude 

 protein. 



