SEPTEMBER, 1900, TO DECEMBER, 1903. 161 



most promising species for culture were found to be very rare in a wild state, having 

 been almost exterminated by herbivorous animals. The collection here enumerated 

 was obtained for study and not for distribution. It is of the very greatest value and 

 the various species are now being cultivated in a preliminary way by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture to get information as to their adaptability to American condi- 

 tions. As the life histories of the various species are worked out so that reasonable 

 prognosis can be made as to the value of the plant for forage or for hay or green 

 manure and some information can be given as to the regions where it is most likely 

 to succeed, and where seed can be grown at a reasonable cost, then this species will 

 be introduced into practical culture. It is likely that many plants of the greatest 

 value for the future development of American agriculture, especially in the dry 

 regions of the West, are included in this collection, which is the cream of what has 

 been brought together by twenty years' study in North Africa, one of the richest 

 regions of the world for leguminous plants suitable for field culture." (Swingle.) 



7689. Lupinus termis. White lupine. 



' ' This plant is one of the prominent lupines which has a place in general 

 culture. It has a vigorous, upright growth." (Scofield.) 



7690. Lupinus angustifolius. 



" Specimen found near Fort National, where the soils are evidently of mar- 

 ble or limestone origin." (Scofield.) 



7691. Ononis avellana. 



"This plant is too coarse for use as a forage plant; it may have a place as a 

 soil fixer or for green manuring. ' ' ( Scofield. ) 



7692. Melilotus macrostachys. 



"Specimen obtained from trial plats at the botanical station at Rouiba. 

 This is one of the most promising plants of this genus. It is the only one not 

 objectionable for forage purposes on account of its odor. It has a vigorous 

 growth, often reaching 3 J feet in height, and has a large leafy surface." 



(Scofield. ) 



7693. Melilotus speciosa. 



"Specimen from botanical garden at Rouiba. Several varieties of this 

 species are under cultivation. It is a fairly good forage plant, being erect and 

 producing an abundance of foliage. ' ' ( Scofield. ) 



7694. Melilotus sulcata. 



"Specimen from the garden of the school of medicine of Algiers. This plant 

 is one of the least valuable of this genus. It has rather harsh stems and does 

 not have an abundant leaf growth. It seeds very freely." (Scofield. ) 



7695. Medicago arborea. 



7696. Cytisus proliferus. 



' ' Specimen from botanical station at Rouiba. This plant has been intro- 

 duced into Algeria from the Canary Islands. It is a shrub, often 12 to 14 

 feet high; very leafy and producing a large number of seed pods. The new 

 shoots are often trimmed from the tree and used in the dryer countries." 



(Scofield.) 



7697. Cytisus linifolius. 



7698. Scorpiurus vermiculata. 



"Specimen from botanical station at Rouiba, where it is both wild and 

 cultivated. Plant has creeping habit, rather vigorous, but seldom more than 

 7 or 8 inches high; fruits very freely. There are large numbers of nodules. 

 The plant is principally for sheep pasturing and for enriching the soil in 

 nitrogen." (Scofield.) 



