SEPTEMBEE, 1900, TO DECEMBER, 1903. 19 



5572 to 5585— Continued. 



5577. Vicia faba. Horse bean. 



"This is a dwarf form of horse bean which Doctor Trabut reports as grow T - 

 ing wild 25 miles south of Teniat. He considers it to be undoubtedly the wild 

 form of the cultivated broad beans and horse beans. It is utilized by the 

 Arabs, but is probably of little value compared with the improved form, 

 though it may resist drought better, since it comes from a dry region in Algeria. ' ' 

 (Swingle.) 



5578. Melilotus maceostachys. Melilot. 



' ' This species of melilot, native to Algeria, differs from most of the sw r eet 

 clovers in having no pronounced odor. In consequence of this it is readily 

 eaten by cattle. It has succeeded very well at the Experiment Station at 

 Rouiba, where it attains a height of from 3 to 6 feet." (Swingle.) 



5579. Trigonella corniculata. Small fenugreek. 



"This species, which has the same strong odor as fenugreek, from which it 

 differs, however, in having very much smaller pods and seeds, grows very 

 vigorously at the Experiment Station at Rouiba, where it attains a height of 

 from 3 to 5 feet. It could not be used for feeding milch cows, as the strong 

 odor would make the milk unsalable. It is, how r ever, used for fattening stock 

 and as a green manure. It is said to resist drought very well." (Swingle. ) 



5580. Trigonella gladiata. Trigonella. 



" This plant also resembles fenugreek in odor. It has been cultivated with 

 some success at the Experiment Station at Rouiba." (Swingle.) 



5581. Scorpiurus vermiculata. Rabbit's ear. 



' ' This plant is a half-prostrate annual and grows wild all through northern 

 Algeria. It is said to furnish an excellent forage on good land and the Arabs 

 eat the seeds. The pods, which are bent more or less into a circle, are as large 

 * as one's finger and lie on the ground. They are eaten greedily by the sheep 

 and constitute one of their important foods on the plains of northern Algeria." 

 (Swingle.) 



5582. Ononis avellana. Ononis. 



"This is said by Doctor Trabut to be a good green manure for heavy soils. 

 It is found only in Algeria, where it occurs in few localities on clay hills." 

 (Swingle. ) 



5583. Lupinus angustifolius. Narrow-leafed lupine. 



"This species is commonly grown by the Kabyles and Arabs, and is used 

 by them as a substitute for coffee. It is the earliest maturing species grown in 

 North Africa and is good for green manure. It is said to dislike an excess of 

 lime in the soil." (Swingle. ) 



5584. Lupinus termis. Egyptian or Corsican lupine. 



"This is considered by Doctor Trabut to be the best species for culture in 

 North Africa. It is sown at the rate of about 100 pounds to the acre, in 

 autumn, and it grows rapidly, and in February or March can be plowed under. 

 It much resembles the white lupine, but is said to be taller and have larger 

 seeds. It is a very promising species for culture in California." (Swingle.) 



5585. Lathyrus tingitanus. Tangier flat pea. 



" This species, which is a native of North Africa, is considered by Doctor Trabut 

 to be one of the best forage plants in Africa. It reaches a height of from 3 to 4 

 feet and drives out all other plants. Sown in autumn it prevents the growth 

 of all w T eeds, and on the 16th of May gives a crop of 3J tons of dry hay to the 

 acre. It is sown at the rate of about 50 pounds of seed per acre and is some- 

 times sown with one-third the weight of winter oats. It is a beautiful plant, 

 very vigorous, and probably has a great future as a forage plant in the South 

 and Southwest. (Swingle.) 



