GRASS AND HAY 137 



tritive ratio of about 1 to 3. The average of all American analyses 

 shows a nutritive ratio for the seed of 1 to 2.8 and for pea meal of 

 1 to 3.2. This shows the peas to be a richer food than wheat bran, 

 but less concentrated than the gluten, linseed, cotton-seed, and soy- 

 bean meals. The field pea is an excellent soiling crop for late spring 

 and early summer use, furnishing a large amount of succulent for- 

 age which is relished by cattle. It deserves wider cultivation by 

 Northern farmers. Careless Weed (Amaranthus palmeri). This 

 has a wide distribution through the Southwest. Cattle are fond of 

 the leaves and seeds; the amount of seed produced is enormous. 

 Stockmen in New Mexico and Arizona have a high opinion of the 

 careless weed ; sheep may be fattened on the standing weed in winter 

 when there is a shortage of feed on the open range. Carob bean, or 

 St. John's Bread (Ceratonia siliqua). A leguminous tree, often at- 

 taining a height of 50 feet, indigenous to the eastern Mediterranean 

 region, but introduced somewhat widely through the Southern 

 States and in California. Its saccharine pods are valuable as feed for 

 stock. The pods are abundantly produced, even in arid regions and 

 in seasons of drought. They contain about 66 per cent of carbohy- 

 drates, and are fed in rations of about 6 pounds per day, crushed or 

 ground. Cassava (Manihot aipi}. A spurge, native of the Tropics, 

 largely cultivated in the West Indies, Central and South America, 

 and to a less extent in Florida and California. It is a rapid grower, 

 with rank, branching, erect stems 4 or 5 feet high, large seven-parted, 

 long-stalked leaves, and horizontal fleshy roots or tubers 3 to 5 feet 

 long and from 1 to 2 l /2 inches in diameter. It thrives in loose, dry, 

 sandy loams, and produces from 6,000 to 8,000 pounds of roots per 

 acre on soils of average fertility, and 10,000 to 20,000 pounds on 

 fields that have received large amounts of fertilizers. The roots are 

 fed whole or sliced, to all kinds of stock. They contain 72 per cent 

 of starch, 17 per cent sugar and gum, and over 3 per cent of albu- 

 minoids. On account of the small amount of flesh formers con- 

 tained in the roots, they should be fed with some nitrogenous food 

 to make up the deficiency. Cassava is propagated by means of cut- 

 tings of the stems, each piece having two or three eyes or buds. 

 These are planted in hills 4 feet apart each way, and the rows rolled, 

 to pack the earth around the cuttings and prevent them drying out. 

 The roots should be dug only as fast as they can be used, as they rot 

 quickly when exposed to the air. Cassava is now extensively grown 

 in Florida for the manufacture of starch. Cat's Paw (Lamium am- 

 plexicaule). An annual of biennial common in waste places and 

 fields from Texas to New England ; in Texas it keeps green in win- 

 ter and is eaten by all kinds of stock. Chestnut Sedge (Cyperus 

 erythrorhizas) . An annual sedge with upright stems, leafy at the 

 base, and with four or five leaves at the top ; the flower-olusters are 

 usually bright chestnut-brown; this plant furnishes good forage. 

 Chick pea or gram (Cicer ari.etinum) . An annual, with many up- 

 right stems from the same root. The leaves resemble those of the 

 vetch. The flowers are borne singly in the axils of the loaves on 

 short stalks about one-half inch long. The pods arc bladdery, in- 



