103 



Bur clover and Maria (alfilaria) grow on high land, and die when dry weather 

 comes. I do not know but they might be kept green all the year if kept wet. 



They are about the only plants which grow on the high land all the year as alfalfa 

 does on the low lands. As nine-tenths of onr land is dry land, you can see the extent 

 of our needs. 



Daniel Griswold, Westminster, Los Angeles, Cal.: 



I think alfilaria would be a good thing to raise in the Southern States, but it will 

 bo a rather hard seed to gather, though not so hard as Bermuda grass. It produces 

 a small-jointed seed, with a beard or curl attached. Butte or Colusa County would, 

 be the best place to obtain the seed, The plant is native here. Itisnever cultivated 

 but comes up of itself whenever there is rain enough. It grows everywhere (ex- 

 cept in swamps) in damp land, on the driest land, and on the tops of hills up to the 

 snow-line. It has a root that runs slightly downward, and it has to be very dry to 

 prevent it making seed. On damp, rich land it grows large enough to make a good 

 swath of hay. On poor or- dry laud it is small and dries up. but even in its dry state 

 stock eat it clean and are very fond of it. 



O. K. Orcutt, San Diego, Cal. : 



Erodium cicutarium and Erodium moscJiatum (about equally used) grow abundantly 

 in southern California and through northern lower California, sometimes attaining 

 a height of 2 feet or more. They grow on dry lands, but only in wet years or where 

 there is abundant rain-fall do they attain any size. 



O. F. Thorton, Phrenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. : 



It is not cultivated, but is rapidly spreading on the dry ranges (i. e., valleys and 

 mountain sides), and is one of the very best wild grasses, either green or dry. 



(Plate 101.) 



RICHARDSONIA. 



Richardsonia scabra (Mexican Clover; Spanish Clover; Florida Clover; Water 

 Parsley; Bell-fountain; Poor Toe; Pigeon- Weed, etc.). 



This is an annual plant of the family Rubiacecc which contains the 

 coffee, cinchona, and madder. It is therefore not a true clover, that 

 name having perhaps been given from the general appearance of the 

 plant and the fact that the flowers are mostly borne in terminal heads. 

 The stem is spreading, branching, and somewhat hairy, and the leaves, 

 unlike the clovers, are composed of a single piece. The plant is a native 

 of Mexico and South America, which has become naturalized in the 

 United States, especially along the Gulf coast, where its chief value 

 seems to be as a renovator of poor, sandy soils. In more dry, exposed 

 regions it seems to require rich, cultivated soils in order to do well. It 

 has been but little cultivated, and it is not known how far north it may 

 be grown successfully, but it would probably have little value where 

 clover can be readily grown. The statements in regard to its value for 

 pasture and Lay are very conflicting. It is usually quite succulent and 

 not readily cured in the climate where it is most largely grown. As it 

 grows chiefly in cultivated grounds, it is often looked upon only as a 

 weed. 



