LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
IVISION OF AGROSTOLOGY, 
Washington, D. C., June 18, 1896. 
Sin: I submit herewith for publication as a bulletin of this division, 
a descriptive list of fodder and forage plants, exclusive of grasses. The 
arrangement of the different kinds is l, according to the initial 
letter of their scientific or Latin names. There is added an alphabet- 
ical list of all the common or English names applied to these plants, with 
their Latin equivalents. The work is popular in its character, and is as 
free from technicalities as possible. The descriptions are brief, and the 
remarks under each species, while brief, include what has been regarded 
as mostimportant, and afford such information as the farmer and others 
interested would be most likely to wish to know. Besides the cultivated 
forage plants which are already more or less widely known, native species 
whieh have never yet been cultivated are ineluded in the enumeration. 
There are in the United States over 200 native or wild species of this 
class which are recognized locally as excellent forage plants. More atten- 
tion should be given these natives, for there is every reason to believe 
that among them are many kinds fully equal in productiveness and 
feeding value to any of those now under cultivation, and possibly many 
superior to anything we have now in their adaptability to certain soils 
or elimates or in their value for special uses. Among the species par- 
ticularly worthy of attention in this connection are wild vetch (Hosackia), — 
Beck with's clover, buffalo pea, winter fat, prickly pear, sotol, and deer 
weed. 
Respectfully, F. LAMSON-SCRIBNER, 
Chief of Division of Agrostology. 
Hon. CHAS. W. DABNEY, Jr., 
Assistant Secretary of Ag N 
