38 
cause it to be highly esteemed by sheep herders and cattlemen in years of drought. 
Fed to cows it increases the flow of milk, but causes laxity if too much is given 
at once 
Potentilla. Cinquefoil; Five-finger. 
There are a number of species of potentilla, native to the prairie regions west of 
the Missouri River. According to Professor Bessey, they contribute some value 
to ihe native pastures. They belong to the Rose family, and are closely related 
to the strawberry, which they resemble in foliage and habit of growth. 
Poterium sanguisorba. Burnet; Burnet clover; Salad burnet. (Fig. 38.) 
A so-called clover, belonging to the Rose family, the foliage of which resembles that 
of sainfoin. In the early part of the present century its cultivation was-highly 
recommended, and extravagant claims were put forth concerning it, but it is 
FIG. 38.—Burnet (Poterium sanguisorba). Fia. 39.—Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora). 
now only used in mixtures for sheep pastures on dry and barren sandy or calca- 
reous fields, such as are suited to the growth of sainfoin. The seeds of burnet 
are sometimes used to adulterate the latter, to which it is inferior in value, 
because of the smaller amount of forage which it produces. The dry hay con- 
tains about 15 per cent of crude protein. 
Prosopis juliflora. Mesquite tree; Screw bean. (Fig. 39.) 
A thorny, leguminous shrub, growing in favored localities to a tree from 20 to 40 feet 
high, with a trunk 21 feet in diameter. It is widely distributed from Texas to 
very good browsing for horses and cattle. It bears two crops of beans a year, 
which are next to barley for fattening horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs. The 
leaves, pods, and bark are rich in tannin, and a gum, similar to gum arabic, 
nene . ae 
