FORAGE PLANTS OF THE FAMILY LEGUMINOS^E 213 



its rapid, weedy growth, woody stems and persistence in cultivated fields 

 renders it objectionable as a forage plant. 



Spurrey (Spergula saliva). This plant was cultivated as early as 1566 

 in Europe as a forage plant. It has been used as a catch crop and on the 

 sandy soils of Europe, its growth is rapid. It is looked upon in Europe 

 as a valuable crop, but has not been used generally in America. 



Mexican Clover (Richardsonia scabra). This rubiaceous annual is 

 native to Mexico coming up in cultivated land in spring and forming a 

 dense herbage under favorable conditions. It is, when cured, readily 

 eaten by farm animals. 



Sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Sunflowers are grown in Kansas 

 and elsewhere in the west for their seeds, which form an important poultry 

 feed and for oil production. 



Artichoke (Helianthus tuber osus). The tubers of this sunflower are 

 chopped up and form one of the most useful feeds for hogs during the 

 winter months. 



Burnet (Sanguisorba minor). This deep-rooted, European perennial 

 is used as a pasture plant in England and France, but in America, it has 

 not been found sufficiently valuable to justify cultivation. 



Rib-grass (Plantago lanceolata) . This European weed is common 

 everywhere in America, and is looked upon as a troublesome plant in 

 alfalfa and red clover fields, but its leaves are readily eaten by sheep and 

 cattle, when cured into hay. It may prove useful as a pasture plant for 

 thin, stony soils. 



Prickly Comfrey (Symphytum asperrimum). This perennial herb came 

 from the Caucasus region. It has been raised in England as a green 

 forage for cows, hogs and sheep, but has not been used much in America. 



Emergency Feeds. In the scarcity of the usual forage plants on the 

 western and stock ranges, it has been the practice to feed native desert 

 species in the chopped-up condition to stock. The following plants have 

 been found useful in tiding over the period of forage scarcity: soap weed 

 (Yucca elata}, bear-grass (Yttcca glauca), sotol (Dasylirion texanum, D. 

 Wheeleri), lechuguila (Agave lechuguila} and nolina (Nolina erwnpens 

 and N. microcarpa). As feed, they are of low value, but will keep 

 stock from starving. 



GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY 



A VIRGINIA FARMER. Roman Farm Management. The Treatises of Cato and Varro 

 done into English with Notes of Modern Instances. New York, The MacMillan 

 Company, 1913. 



