474 



Spergula maxima (Giant spurrey. Fig. 31). Similar to 

 common spurrey, but making a ranker growth. It is also slightly 

 richer in flesh-forming ingredients, and is the more valuable species 

 of the two. 



Symphytum asperrimum (Prickly comfrey ; comfrey). A 

 coarse, rank-growing perennial herb, with purple flowers in nodding 

 one-sided clusters, and large, rough leaves. A native of the 

 Caucasus, which has been widely introduced and recommended as 

 a forage plant for rich soils. It has been claimed that an enormous 

 quantity of forage may be cut from an acre, but after extended 



Fig. 32. Egyptian Clover (Trifoliniu alc.vandriniim}. 



trials in this country it has been determined to be of less value than 

 the clovers, and is now rarely grown. It is propagated from the 

 roots, which are set in rows 18 inches apart, and 16 inches in the 

 rows. Its cultivation is not recommended, except when it is 

 desired to procure an enormous bulk of forage from a small amount 

 of very rich land. Prickly comfrey has proved a success only in 

 New York, Michigan, and Florida, in the latter State having been 

 recommended as a good forage plant for waste lands. 



