10 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



3. V. AMERICANA, 4. V. CAROLINIANA, Carolina Vetch, 

 5. V. ACUTIFOLIA. Acute leaved Vetch, 6. V. MICRANTHA, 

 Small flowered Vetch, and 7. V. IIIRSUTA, Hairy Vetch, nat- 

 uralized, are all valuable wild forage plants. Deer and cattle 

 feed on these greedily and grow fat. Some of these grow abun- 

 dantly and richly in the southern States and would no doubt 

 give better satisfaction in cultivation than the imported varieties. 



LENS. Lentil. 



L. ESCULENTA. Common Lentil. This is from Europe and 

 cultivated both for fodder and for the seeds. But it is too f*3- 

 ble and small to yield much of either. 



III. TICK TREFOIL TRIBE. 



Pod separating transversely into one seeded joints, or having 

 one joint or achene. Stems not twining. 



STYLOSANTHES. Pencil Flower. 



5. ELATIOR. This is a low herb with trifoliate leaves, and 

 small orange yellow flowers in Iktie clusters or heads; and it is 

 valuable in pine barrens for browsing in heat of summer. 



LESPEDEZA. Bush Clover. 



1. L. REPENS. Creeping Lespedeza lies flat on the ground 

 covering from three to ten square fcet of surface. It will not 

 grow on good soil ; prefers indeed no soil proper, but clay and 

 sand. It is utterly worthless. 



2. L. VIOLACEA. Purple Bush Clover has an erect, stout, 

 branching stem and varies so greatly with locality that several 

 distinct varieties are named. 



3. L. STUVEI. Downy Bush Clover with stem erect, branch- 

 ing, downy. 



4. L. HIRTA. Hairy Bush Clover has an erect, wand-like, 

 pubescent stem. 



6. L. CAPITATA. Headed Bush Clover has a mostly simple, 

 erect, softly pubescent stem. These last four contain much 

 nourishment in the seed and foliage and grow on sterile soils, 

 where stock that can do no better eat them in late summer, and 

 early part of autumn. Though highly commended by some per- 

 sons, they are unworthy of notice except on very poor lands. 



6. L. STRIATA. Japan Clover. Stock do not relish this 

 plant at first sight ; but tasting a few times, they become very 

 ibnd of it for grazing and hay. In many places, they abandon 

 all the natural pasturage in March, April or May, and confine 

 themselves to this till frost kills it down. 



