20 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



HELIANTHUS. 



H. ANNUUS. The Sun Flower leaves contain considerable 

 nutritive material ; and the seeds are very rich, especially in oil 

 of a bland character. They are better food for poultry than for 

 large animals. The plant is coarse, large and not sufficiently 

 productive to be desirable as a farm crop. 



2. H. TUBEROSUS. Jerusalem Artichoke is more valuable 

 than the preceding. The leaves are nutritious and relished by 

 stock. The plant is cultivated, however, more for the tubers, 

 which are produced in large quantities with little cultivation. 

 They are wholesome, valuable food for stock. They remain in 

 the ground without rotting or damage, and may be gathered by 

 hogs at will. 



The tubers for planting should be cut in the same manner as 

 Irish potatoes and planted like the latter or like corn from one 

 and a half to three feet apart in the rows. The rows should be 

 from three to six feet apart according to quality of land. They 

 may be planted in fence corners ; and the hoeing to keep the 

 fence-row clear of weeds will make the crop. In fence corners , 

 once planting is usually sufficient for annual crops. Though 

 hogs be turned on them, enough will be left for another crop from 

 year to year. In the plowed land they should be cultivated like 

 corn. The plants grow rapidly and require little attention. On 

 good land the sun flower and artichoke both produce very large 

 tall woody stems, those of the latter more branched. Where 

 fuel is scarce and very costly, as on large praries, these plants 

 may be profitably cultivatedfor fuel as well as food. This fuel 

 is more especially adapted to use in the cooking stove. Being 

 very rich in potash, the ashes should be returned to the soil. 



ACHILLEA. 



A. MILLEFOLIUM. Yarrow, Milfoil. This plant is commend- 

 ed by foreign writers as valuable in pastures. But its value 

 probably consists mainly in its aromatic, bitter, tonic properties. 

 But in this country, live stock usually find enough tonics in oth- 

 er plants to serve all the requirements of health. 



CICHORIUM. Succory. 



1. C. INTYBUS. Wild Succory, Chiccory. This plant also is 

 commended by foreign writers for forage. But as it imparts a 

 bad taste to milk and has no great nutritive value, it should be 

 excluded from our pastures and fields. The sole use, for which 

 it is cultivated in the United States, is for adulterating coffee, 

 the roasted root being the part employed. As it has not the 

 properties of coffee, the practise is a base fraud, a criminal swin- 



f\ 1 f\ TT^TYI tirVfcirf^Vfc 4-rfc* ~r\r\f\\* ^csv\o/"l o I \\7 dlTT/iY* 



