244 FORAGE CROPS. 



Union south of the 40th parallel, that is to say, south 

 of the latitude of Indianapolis. 



This plant has hitherto been grown chiefly as 

 an article of commerce. It is cultivated much the 

 same as Indian corn. The fruit is sold somewhat 

 extensively as food in all cities north and south, and 

 it is made into an oil that is used as a lubricant and 

 also for lighting-. 



In some of the southern states it has been grown 

 as a food for live stock and more especially as a for- 

 age for swine. Since it is adapted to sandy land it 

 may be grown on large areas in the southern states. 

 The yield in some instances is not much less than 

 forty bushels per acre, but ordinarily it is consider- 

 ably less than that amount. Whether it shall come 

 to be generally grown as a food for swine may 

 depend somewhat on the market values of the fruit. 

 Swine are fond of the nuts, and when thus fed the 

 labor of digging is avoided. 



THE VELVET BEAN. 



The velvet bean (DoUchos multiHonis) is a 

 plant which has only recently been brought before 

 the American public. It has been grown for several 

 years in Florida, but rather as a trellis shade than 

 as a food plant or a fertilizer. It is said to have 

 been imported into Florida from Brazil, and into 

 the test gardens of some seedsmen from Japan. Its 

 precise value to the United States has yet to be 

 determined, although there can be but little question 

 that as a food plant and also as a source of fertility 

 it may yet be made to bestow much benefit on the 

 more southern of the Atlantic states and also on 



