MISCELLANEOUS HERBS USED AS FORAGE 577 



Michigan, seed yields of 8 to 12 bushels an acre were 

 secured. There is likelihood, however, that spurrey may 

 in time be a useful plant in America on very sandy lands 

 in the Northern States, when economic conditions will 

 justify their development. On better lands it is not likely 

 ever to be used. 



In Germany the hay yields are said to be about 6000 

 pounds and the seed yields 450 to 600 pounds an acre. 

 The straw is nearly as good feed as the hay. 



Spurrey has sometimes been condemned as a weed, but 

 such references belong to corn spurrey and not to the 

 cultivated plant. The seed is small, one pound containing 

 1,350,000. The usual rate of seeding is 15 to 20 pounds 

 to the acre. 



Another species, the Giant Spurrey (Spergula maxima), 

 has also been cultivated since 1841. This is a larger plant 

 with larger seeds, 740,000 weighing one pound. It reaches 

 its growth in 10 to 12 weeks and ripens its seed in 16 

 weeks. Unlike common spurrey, this species is adapted 

 to heavier soils rich in lime, and its culture is of much less 

 importance. At the Michigan Upper Peninsula Station, 

 it was sown July 28 and cut September 10, giving a yield 

 of about 3.5 tons hay to the acre. 



691. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), in some of its numer- 

 ous forms, is native throughout the north temperate zone. 

 The plant has the strong odor of chamomile, but cattle 

 and sheep eat it when young. It is a long-lived, deep- 

 rooted perennial ; leaves pinnately divided into very 

 fine, numerous segments ; heads numerous, small, white- 

 rayed, in a dense flat umbel. 



Yarrow will grow in any type of soil if well drained and, 

 because of its persistence, has been used in pasture mix- 

 tures for poor, hilly lands in Europe. It will withstand 



2p 



