DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. 19 



both as regards the value of its green and dried fodder and its fertiliz- 

 ing effect upon the soil, and if possible to introduce its culture into 

 such regions of the United States as shall be suited to its protitable 

 cultivation. A considerable quantity of seed has been secured through 

 the kind assistance of Mr. George P. Foaden. of the Khedevial Agri- 

 cultural Society of Cairo, for distribution by the Section of Seed and 

 Plant Introduction, and experiments to test it are now under way. 

 Previous experiments with the culture of berseem were based upon an 

 insufficient knowledge of its peculiarities as a winter crop and their 

 failure was practically assured from the start. 



It is designed to have the plant tested as a half-year rotation for 

 cotton in Texas, and in connection with the culture of the newly 

 imported Egyptian cotton now being grown experimentally in Ari- 

 zona and southern California. It is hoped also that it will find a place 

 for itself as a winter soiling and fodder crop for orchards and vine- 

 yards in such regions as Arizona and California, where winter irriga- 

 tion, which has been shown to be so beneficial by Professor McClatchie, 

 is practiced. For spring forage, berseem may prove of value for the 

 Northwest if planted, after all danger of frost is over and harvested 

 before the excessive heat of summer comes on. and the humid climate 

 of Washington and Oregon may admit of its use in rotation with 

 wheat, where now many thousands of acres lie fallow throughout the 

 winter. Until careful tests have been made it will be impossible to 

 say to which of these purposes it will prove best adapted. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. 



Plate I. 



Plant of Muscowi berseem in full flower. Natural size. From a photograph taken 

 by Mr. C. S. Scofield of a plant in the trial gardens of Dr. Trabut at Rouiba. near 

 Algiers. 



Plate II. 



Reclamation of salt lands by the aid of berseem. Fig. 1. Salt land of Aboukir 

 estate near the seacoast of the Nile Delta before any attempts at reclaiming have 

 been made. Fig. 2. Aboukir estate; fresh- water canal at right of picture: on the 

 left, drain for salty water after it has been used for washing salt lands. Fig. 3. Horse 

 feeding in field of berseem on salt lands of Aboukir the second year after the washing 

 and reclaiming work has been begun. 



Plate III. 



Fig. 1. Water buffaloes feeding in a berseem field at Kafr. Dewar on the estate of 

 Mr. Em. Zervudachi. Fig. 2. Cattle tethered in a berseem field near Cairo. Fig. 

 3. Cattle in barn, feeding on fresh berseem. at Mr. Beyerlvs estate at Bordein. Egypt 



Plate IV. 



Fig. 1. Camels loaded with fresh berseem starting for Alexandria. From photo- 

 graph taken by Mr. Brand, -of Aboukir estate. Fig. 2. Early morning on the road 

 from the Pyramids. Camels loaded with fresh berseem. Fig. 3. A donkey load of 

 fresh berseem. 



