FORAGE CROPS 



FORAGE CROPS 



311 



and will not stand frost. It is not recommended 

 except in Florida. There it grows through the 

 winter. [Bulletin No. 22, Division of Agrostology, 

 page 57.] 



Tarweed (Madia sativa). Compositm. A rank- 

 growing annual, native in Chile and California. A 

 variety is said to be a useful plant for sheep pas- 

 tures in dry soil. It is cultivated in the arid South- 

 west and parts of California. In many places it is 

 considered a troublesome weed. In Chile it is 



grown for the 

 lubricating oil 

 contained in its 

 seeds. The leaves 

 have a viscid ex- 

 udation and the 

 plant has a rank 

 odor. It is spring- 

 sown and grows 

 rapidly after 

 warm weather 

 comes. The seed- 

 heads ripen un- 

 evenly and shat- 

 ter badly. 



Tagasaste(6V- 

 tisus proliferus 

 Yar. albus). Legu- 

 minoscB. A shrub, 

 native in the 

 Canary islands 

 where it is 

 greatly valued as 

 a forage. It is 

 used there chiefly 

 for cows and is 

 said greatly to 

 increase the flow 

 of milk. On the 

 strength of its 

 reputation there 

 it has been in- 

 troduced into many countries for the same pur- 

 pose. It has been tested at the California Station 

 and elsewhere, with rather unfavorable results. 

 Unless kept down by browsing or grown in dry 

 places, it becomes large and woody, good only for 

 firewood. On drier lands it makes a low, shrubby 

 growth that is browsed by stock when the more 

 succulent grasses disappear. All of the plant is ex- 

 ceedingly leafy. It has been recommended for all 

 stock, but has not yet demonstrated such general 

 usefulness. It is said to be unsuitable for horses 

 except as a dry fodder. It is intolerant to frost. 

 It has been recommended for light, dry soils. A 

 loose, friable soil is an advantage, as the taproot 

 can penetrate to greater depths, enabling it better 

 to withstand drought. The soil should be well 

 drained. In favorable situations it grows luxu- 

 riantly, and is very attractive because of its dark 

 green foliage and profusion of white flowers which 

 are much visited by bees. It is adapted to barren 

 hilly lands, and will endure for twenty years or 

 more. ,- 



Tangier pea (Lathyrvs Tingitanus). Leguminosm. 



Fig. 423. 

 Scotch broom (CytisiLS scoparius). 



Tangier Scarlet Pea. A vigorous annual plant, 

 native of Barbary. Stems spreading, winged, gla- 

 brous, three feet long ; leaflets linear-lanceolate, 

 obtuse, mucronulate ; stipules lanceolate ; peduncle 

 two-flowered ; flowers dark red-purple ; pod four to 

 five inches long. The seeds may be used for table 

 use and the plant is liked by cattle. It is spring- 

 planted in close drills. It seems to be hardy, and 

 as a native of the Mediterranean region it should 

 be resistant to heat and drought. It was first tried 

 in California in 1889. It is sometimes grown as a 

 flower-garden plant. [See Fig. 1242, Cyclopedia of 

 American Horticulture.] 



Teff (native name of Eragrostis Abyssinica). An 

 annual grass of northeast Africa, grown for food ; 

 its small grains are made into bread. Two varieties 

 are cultivated, a white and a red variety, the first 

 being much superior to the second. It produces 

 seeds abundantly and may be of use for hay in the 

 southern states. When grown from imported seed, 

 it makes a heavy yield of fine hay, but seed grown 

 in this country has thus far germinated poorly. 



White mustard (Brassiea alba). Cruciferm. An 

 erect, much-branched annual, bearing stiff hairs on 

 the stem. The leaves are deeply cut and rough- 

 hairy. The flowers are yellow. The pods are spread- 

 ing, hairy, the lower part thick and few-seeded ; 

 the seeds are large, roundish, pale yellow, and 

 sticky when wet. It is widely scattered, appearing 

 as a weed, but is grown for its seed, as a catch- 

 crop, green-manure and forage. It is a short-season 

 crop and a rank grower, exceedingly rich in nitro- 

 gen, which gives it its value for these purposes. 

 Many attempts have been made to show that it 

 draws on the nitrogen supply of the air in the 

 same way as legumes, but they have failed. As a 

 catch-crop it is most useful, since it may be sown 

 after many other crops are harvested, or in the 

 last cultivation of tilled crops, as corn, when it 

 will serve the purpose of pasture for sheep or 

 young stock, as a cover to prevent soil-washing in 

 winter, conserve soil nitrogen, and improve the soil 

 as a green-manure when plowed under. There is 

 little difficulty in ridding the land of mustard where 

 it has been grown. It is not much used by cattle, 

 and must be supplemented when used for sheep or 

 young stock. 



White mustard will thrive on a wide range of 

 soils, but does best on a calcareous loam soil that 

 is well supplied with moisture. It is sown any time 

 after the danger of frost is past in the spring, as 

 it is very susceptible to frost. It may be sown 

 alone for pasture or green-manure, at the rate of 

 six to fifteen pounds of seed per acre, broadcasted. 

 If sown with rape or a like crop, as is recommended 

 to lessen bloating of sheep pastured on the rape, 

 the proportion of mustard to rape should be about 

 one to three. It may be advisable to sow the mus- 

 tard after the rape is started, as it matures more 

 quickly. The stalks quickly become woody, so it is 

 best to pasture the mustard before it blooms ; and 

 when it is to be used as a green-manure it should 

 be plowed under before it gets woody. White mus- 

 tard, as also black mustard and charlock, are now 

 common weeds. 



