140 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



prairies of Texas and Mexico ; cattle and sheep are fond of this plant 

 and fatten quickly in pastures where it is plentiful. False Helle- 

 bore (Veratrum viride). Rather common in the meadows in the 

 Cascade range of Oregon; sheep are very fond of the young leaves 

 and shoots when they first appear. Flat pea (Lathyrus sylvestris 

 wagneri) . A perennial, which has of recent years been highly rec- 

 ommended as a forage plant on account of its drought-resisting quali- 

 ties. The plant looks much like the ornamental sweet pea, with many 

 weak, leafy stems which interlace in great tangled masses. The hand- 

 some rose-colored flowers are borne in loose clusters, and are followed 

 by pods not unlike those of the field pea. Analyses of the hay, made 

 at the Michigan Station, showed 27 per cent crude protein. The 

 growth of the plant at first is slow and it is recommended to plant the 

 seed in beds, from which they may be transplanted at the beginning 

 of the second season to the place they are to occupy in the field. Sev- 

 eral cuttings may be taken each season in favorable localities, and the 

 average life of a field is from fifteen to twenty-five years. In this 

 country the best results have been obtained with the flat pea in Cali- 

 fornia, in the arid Southwest, and in the Southern States. The flat 

 pea has now been grown experimentally in every State in the Union. 

 As a rule the verdict in regard to it is that the flat pea is not as valu- 

 able as at first claimed. Fleshy Lupine (Lupinus subcarnosus) . A 

 rather stout, silky perennial with palmately five-parted leaves and 

 racemes of purple flowers. It grows in southern and western Texas, 

 appearing early in spring, at which time both sheep and cattle graze 

 it down. The seeds are ripened abundantly. The fleshy lupine or 

 buffalo pea was formerly common, but has now about disappeared 

 except where protected from stock. It is said to have been often cut 

 for hay in the early days. A promising species for trial in cultiva- 

 tion. Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) . A perennial sedge, common 

 to the western prairies; it grows in large bunches and prefers low 

 prairies and rather dry swales ; it is readily eaten by stock. Analysis 

 shows that hay of this species contains over 10 per cent crude protein. 

 Franseria (Franseria dumosa). A shrubby plant related to the 

 cocklebur, which is one of the most characteristic plants of the Colo- 

 rado desert and the dry sandy plains of southern California. It is 

 valuable feed for stock, either dry or green. It produces an abun- 

 dance of burs, which are eaten by cattle and horses, and are as fatten- 

 ing as grain. It also makes a very fine feed for sheep. It dries up 

 after the winter rains, but greens out after every shower. 



Garden Pea (Pisum sativum). The garden pea, so generally 

 cultivated as an early spring vegetable, is equally valuable as a fodder 

 crop, but it requires richer land and is more quickly affected by 

 drought than the field variety. Some botanists regard this as a cul- 

 tural variety of the field pea. Garry's Oak (Quercus garryana). 

 An oak growing on the slopes of Mount Hood in Oregon ; sheep are 

 extremely fond of the acorns, which are produced in great abundance. 

 Giant Sedge (Carex aristata). A perennial sedge forming a large 

 part of the growth in moist, boggy places in the upper prairie region 

 and supplying a large amount of early pasturage and hay. Giant 



