CROTALARIA, A NEW LEGUME FOR THE SOUTH 76 
Crotalaria usaramoensis makes an excellent ornamental plant. It 
blooms freely and comparatively early and can be grown as far 
north as South Carolina and probably farther north. It blooms 
continuously like C’. retusa but has a longer blooming period. It is 
also much larger than that species, and the flowers are more nearly 
solid yellow. In Florida C. anagyroides makes a good late-season 
plant for the open. At Gainesville it continues to bloom from 
August 1 until frost. It is upright and attains a height of 5 to 7 
feet. The short, clustered racemes of large, bright- -yellow damon 
are very showy and attractive. For ornamental purposes there are 
no doubt other species equal to the ones mentioned. 
USE AS A SMOTHER CROP 
Observations at Gainesville, Fla., have shown Crotalaria striata 
and C. spectabilis to be excellent in combating weeds. Early-summer 
weeds such as Florida pursley (Richardia scabra St. Hil.), sand 
burs (Cenchrus spp.), and crabgrass (Syntherisma sanguinalis (13) 
Dulac) often have covered crotalaria completely in its early stage 
of growth, but the crotalaria eventually has taken possession of 
the field. In Florida, crotalaria is highly regarded as a smother 
crop for nut grass (Cyperus rotundus L.) and other persistent 
weeds. 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES 
While but few chemical analyses of crotalaria have been reported, 
the information available indicates that it is high in protein and is 
similar to many other legumes in this respect. Tables 1, 2, and 3 
give data with reference to nitrogen in crotalaria in comparison with 
other legume crops. 
TasLE 1.—Yields of hay and calculated amounts of nitrogen in crotalaria and 
other legumes grown at the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gaines- 
ville, Fla. 
Yield c 
: i : Nitrogen 
Crop (3-year | Nitrogen | ~ : 
average) EE BOKS 
Tons Per cent | Pounds 
GROUT eee ne ee sens oe ee eee ee Ne ee ork a Se ey 2. 89 2. 446 141. 378 
IS CEC ATCC meee mens eet ee oige. weaele Bees Pe eae se ee ee ee A625 1. 443 17. 890 
IWIGIV.E TC 2 essere sce eet ae aes 2 a el a fe ee a . 85 2. 208 37. 536 
COWDCASP ss se tet eso Ys A ee se ie fo a = ee na et Se 1. 10 2.015 44, 330 
| 
1 C. striata. 
TABLE 2.—Percentage of nitrogen (dry basis) in tops and roots of crotalaria 
and other crops at the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gaines- 
ville, Fla. 
Crop Tops Roots 
CORON Ye SS ay hea Se ee oS a Se pe eg ey ee 2. 78 0. 92 
Beggarweed__-_----_--- Mh fp ees NR ee 5 pt Rea tani ee ene = OE MS 2 nt Shoe en per 1. 64 1.07 
NEUE Ore a eo BO EA oe = SS ea Sia ie 2 Ou (ead elas AR ey aS oe eee er 2. 51 1. 48 
ACO IOUS ot eee aoe ee St ORE keine Sey in ae Na AT Sete 52d ou BL 2. 29 1. 65 
1 C. striata. 
