CROTALARIA, A NEW LEGUME FOR THE SOUTH 5 
It is not yet known what effect drying for hay may have on palata- 
bility, but a feeding test with crotalaria meal at Gainesville, Fla., 
(13)? suggests that crotalaria is more palatable in the cured state. 
Several species tested seem to be devoid of any unpleasant taste, even 
in the green state, and, although they have not yet been fed to live- 
stock, may make good pasturage and hay. These are (. goreensis 
Guill. and Perr., C. grantiana Harvey, C. mawillaris Klotzsch, and 
C. natalitia Meissn. C. wsaramoensis has been reported as being 
eaten readily by cattle and horses in the Netherland East Indies (6). 
VALUE FOR FORAGE 
Information regarding the value of crotalaria for forage is very 
limited. There is reference in literature to some species being 
browsed by livestock without injury, whereas a few species have been 
reported as poisonous. 
At Gainesville, Fla., in 1927, an experiment (13) comparing crot- 
alaria meal with alfalfa meal for milk production was carried out. 
The feeding period lasted 84 days. No injurious results were noted 
either during or after the experiment. The feed consisted of 12 
pounds per day of the following mixture: 
Crotalaria. orraltalia meal ss sors bel yetis! etek > pounds__ 125 
Connvineal === = ee eee er do. 22575 
COUMECE ORCC 8 eos we ee ee ea: apie sgl 2 (fee 50 
CoLbonsSeedssmeGnl ees eee tao eee ee eee ee do2." 50 
ReaniwkmMedl Ss tse ee Beer ise is Te CLO sees. 25 
The crotalaria meal contained 8.58 per cent and the alfalfa meal 
12.56 per cent of protein. It is stated in the report that “the crota- 
laria plants were too mature when cut to make a good quality of 
hay.” 3 
Six animals were used in the experiment, three being fed alter- 
nately crotalaria and alfalfa for periods of 28 days. The total milk 
production with the feed containing alfalfa was 3,577.3 pounds and 
with the feed containing crotalaria meal 3,416.7 pounds. This is 
160.6 pounds in favor of the feed with alfalfa. Considering the 
quality of the crotalaria as reported, it seems that this plant may 
have considerable feeding value. 
SPECIES INJURIOUS TO LIVESTOCK 
A few species of Crotalaria have been reported as poisonous to 
livestock when browsed or fed green, and other species have been 
suspected. Conclusive experimental evidence of crotalaria poison- 
ing, however, is lacking, and with the possible exception of C. sagit- 
talis and C. burkeana Benth. the genus as a whole may be regarded 
as merely under suspicion, until more direct evidence is forthcoming. 
Crotalaria striata® (8, 19, 20) has been reported as causing the 
death of both dairy cows and goats when eaten green, but no bad 
effects were noted when fed as dry hay (8, 73). C. burkeana has 
been reported as causing stiffness in the joints of cattle (3, 5, 12, 
15), but apparently in some areas the effects of phosphorus star- 
vation or deficiency have been attributed to this species. C. sagit- 
talis (4, 11) has been reported as fatal to horses, with symptoms 
3 Italic numbers in parentheses refer to Literature Cited, p. 29. 
*The species used in this experiment was C. striata. 
5 In the Australian report by J. C. Lewis this was referred to as C. arborea. 
