Farmer's Bool of tees and Other Forap Plants, 



CHAPTER I. 

 The Pulse Family. 



From the oldest records, it is evident that members of this 

 family have been used as food for man and beast from the in- 

 fancy of the human race. And for many ages other members 

 have furnished timber, fuel, fibrous materials, dyes, medicines 

 and many other products employed in economic uses. This fam- 

 ily contains about 550 genera and 7000 species, of which our 

 country produces more than 60 genera and over 200 species. 

 In the limited space allowed in this work only a few of these 

 can be mentioned. 



1. LOTUS TRIBE. 



Blossoms butterfly-like, pods not jointed, stems not climbing, 

 cotyledons leafy. 



LUPINUS. Lupine. 



Of this genus, several species are found native; the more com- 

 mon being the perennial, diffuse and vittous; all with generally 

 purplish flowers, rarely white, and woolly pods. While afford- 

 ing some food and worthy of protection, they are not of 'suffi- 

 cient value to justify cultivation. 



CEOTALAEIA. Rattle-box. 



We have three native species of this genus, all with yellow 

 blossoms and dark purple inflated pods. They are low plants, 

 growing 011 sandy pine barrens and other poor soils, affording 

 considerable food for live stock, where better plants do not 

 thrive. They are sometimes cultivated, only however, for 

 amusement of children. 



